Stop us if you’ve heard this one before—Christian McCaffrey is injured.
The talented but oft-injured running back is a late addition to the injury report ahead of Sunday’s game against the Tennessee Titans due to a back injury and will be listed as questionable, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
Despite being downgraded, McCaffrey is expected to be “good to go,” according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
McCaffrey missed San Francisco’s first practice of the week on Wednesday and was limited on Thursday due to an illness, but he was a full participant for their final practice on Friday.
This marks the first time since Week 1 that McCaffrey has an official injury designation leading up to a game. He was dealing with a calf issue prior to the season opener but wound up starting in a 17-13 win over the Seattle Seahawks.
When healthy, McCaffrey is one of the most dynamic offensive playmakers in the sport, but staying on the field has been a real issue. A slew of injuries last season (calf injury, Achilles sprain and a PCL sprain) cost him 13 games in 2024, while he was limited to just 10 games between the 2020-21 campaigns during his time with the Carolina Panthers.
His pairing with the Niners has been fruitful when he’s been available. In 16 games during the 2023 season he rushed for 1,459 yards and 14 touchdowns and added 67 catches for 564 yards and another seven scores, earning the Offensive Player of the Year award. The three-time Pro Bowler and two-time first-team All-Pro is one of the more complete running backs in the sport, offering a threat as a between-the-tackles runner or receiver.
That 2023 Niners team reached the Super Bowl, and expectations have been high since, but San Francisco has mirrored McCaffrey in the injury woes department. This season alone, key offensive players like Brandon Aiyuk, George Kittle, Brock Purdy, Ricky Pearsall and Juaun Jennings have dealt with injuries, and 2024 was even worse.
San Francisco is coming out of a bye going into the matchup with Tennessee. McCaffrey ranks third in the NFL with 1,655 yards from scrimmage and fourth with 13 total touchdowns this season.
If McCaffrey is forced to sit out or is limited, Brian Robinson could be in line for more snaps. But San Francisco’s offense would be far less dynamic without McCaffrey as the team inches closer to a potential playoff berth.