Christian McCaffrey Returns to Practice Amid Speculation

Christian McCaffrey, the star running back for the San Francisco 49ers, returned to team drills on Sunday for the first time since August 8.

His absence from practice had raised questions, with some speculating it was linked to a desire for a pay increase. McCaffrey clarified that his missed practices were part of a strategy to manage his training load effectively. He acknowledged the media's reaction to his absence, describing it as a 'firestorm' and emphasized that the plan was to gradually ramp up his participation to ensure he remains fresh for the season.

McCaffrey's current contract includes a non-guaranteed amount of $12.5 million for 2026. Comparatively, other running backs like Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs have recently signed lucrative contracts, which may contribute to perceptions of McCaffrey being underpaid. However, he indicated that his focus is on maintaining his health and readiness for the upcoming season, particularly the Week 1 game against the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia, on September 10.