Christian McCaffrey has been sitting out San Francisco 49ers practices due to what is being described as muscle tightness. However, some analysts have speculated that it could be a contract hold-in, with McCaffrey potentially pushing for a new deal as the running back market continues to climb. McCaffrey still has two years remaining on his current contract with the 49ers, but several other top NFL backs have received extensions in recent weeks, including Jahmyr Gibbs, Bijan Robinson and Jonathan Taylor.
McCaffrey is clearly in that tier, but he's currently making less than all three. On Tuesday, however, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan downplayed any speculation that McCaffrey's absence was related to his contract situation. "I think they make a lot of assumptions and that would be one that they're wrong on," Shanahan said.
"I think if it wasn't Christian and we were in a game week, I think he would play today." More news: Chiefs Face Concerning Injury as Top Breakout Candidate Leaves Practice on Cart McCaffrey's average annual salary is only a few million dollars less than the other top running backs, but there's definitely an argument that he deserves more money coming off last season. Across 17 games, he rushed for 1,202 yards and 10 touchdowns on 311 carries, along with 924 receiving yards and seven receiving touchdowns as the team's leading pass catcher. He led the league with 413 total touches and ranked second in total scrimmage yards with 2,126, earning first-team All-Pro honors and the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award after appearing in just four games the year prior due to an Achilles injury and right knee injury.
More news: Buccaneers Get Major Boost as WR Jalen McMillan Returns to Practice More news: Chargers’ Mike McDaniel Says Justin Herbert Has Exceeded Expectations So Far Given McCaffrey's injury history and the enormous workload he received last season, it's easy to see why the 49ers are choosing to rest him before the regular season kicks off. To be fair, it's also easy to see why people have speculated that he could be pushing for a new contract. He's now 30 years old, is only two years removed from a serious injury, and has no guaranteed money remaining on his current contract.
For now, though, Shanahan is making it clear that McCaffrey's absence has nothing to do with his contract. The 49ers appear to be taking a cautious approach with their star running back, and given how much they relied on him last season, that may ultimately be the smartest move.
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