By
Michael Gallagher covers national trending news across the NFL, NHL, NBA, WNBA, college football and entertainment for Newsweek.
He brings over a decade of writing and editing experience in sports journalism, has won multiple Tennessee Press Association awards, and covered several notable events including an AFC Championship game, a Stanley Cup Final, an NHL All-Star Game, and an NHL Stadium Series.
His previous bylines can be found on Athlon Sports, Yahoo Sports, The Hockey News, Fox Sports, the Nashville Scene, the Nashville Post, Yardbarker, and SB Nation. You can read more of Michael’s work by following him on X @MGsports_.
Contributing Sports Writer
news article
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Share
✓ Link copied to clipboard!
Listen
Translate
English (Original)
Español中国人FrançaisDeutschPortugueseहिन्दी
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Speed: 0.5xSpeed: 1xSpeed: 1.5xSpeed: 2x
🎙️ Voice is AI-generated. Inconsistencies may occur.
✖
San Francisco 49ers fans saw what life was like without star running back Christian McCaffrey last year.
So when there’s even just the smallest amount of concern over the status of the former Offensive Player of the Year, few can blame them for rushing to hit the panic button.
McCaffrey has gone through most of the team’s offseason program without any hiccups as he recovers from a PCL sprain, but after he was a limited participant in Friday’s practice with a left calf pull, many likely thought to themselves “here we go again.”
McCaffrey played it coy when speaking to reporters after Friday’s practice, stating he plans to play in Sunday’s season opener against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field, but the update head coach Kyle Shanahan gave to the media on Friday afternoon painted a much more cryptic picture.
More Football: 49ers Make Notable WR Addition Ahead of Week 1 Clash vs Seahawks
Christian McCaffrey #23 of the San Francisco 49ers runs off the field after a game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on November 24, 2024 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Christian McCaffrey #23 of the San Francisco 49ers runs off the field after a game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on November 24, 2024 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Patrick McDermott/Getty Images
More Football: Lamar Jackson, Ravens Suffer Key Loss Before Week 1 Matchup vs Bills
“He did a limited amount of stuff in practice yesterday,” Shanahan said, via 95.7 The Game. “[I have a] questionable concern [about his ability to play on Sunday]. I’m not going to say anything about Christian, guys, or any of our players’ injuries. [His current injury issue] came up yesterday.”
More Football: Arch Manning’s Week 1 Collapse vs Ohio State Cost Him Nearly $500K
Reports out of 49ers camp on Friday revealed McCaffrey was not practicing with his teammates, instead he was getting in work on a side field, which is usually indicative of either a player working through an injury or a veteran player getting a rest day.
“During the brief window that is open to the media, 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey was on a side field while his teammates began going through drills,” NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco reported. “McCaffrey was with Mike Sola, a member of the team’s athletic training staff with the title of director, reconditioning.”
McCaffrey is officially listed as questionable on the 49ers injury report, and an update regarding his official status for Week 1 likely won’t come until game day.
More Football: Carson Beck’s Heisman Odds Soar After Miami Upsets Notre Dame