The San Francisco 49ers are gearing up for their Week 1 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington. However, four days before the season opener, a potential concern has emerged on the injury report.
Star running back Christian McCaffrey was listed as limited on Thursday’s practice report due to a calf injury. He had been fully participating in Wednesday’s practice, making the downgrade a notable development for San Francisco’s backfield heading into Week 1.
Will Christian McCaffrey Play in Week 1
McCaffrey enters the 2025 season with renewed optimism, but lingering questions remain after a 2024 campaign in which he missed 13 games. He began last year sidelined with a calf injury and a pedal Achilles sprain, and closed it out dealing with a PCL sprain.
The offseason appeared promising, with reports indicating that McCaffrey was healthy and ready for a full return, until Thursday, when he was limited in practice due to a calf issue. Usually, McCaffrey speaks to the media on Thursdays, but he was unavailable, which fueled concerns about his readiness for Week 1.
McCaffrey’s injury history stretches back to his time with the Carolina Panthers, where from 2017 to mid-2022, he battled multiple setbacks, including a two-year stretch from 2020-2021 that saw him play just 10 games. Since being traded to San Francisco in 2022, he has been in top form, capturing the rushing title in 2023, before suffering his first major injuries as a 49er ahead of last season.
49ers are listing RB Christian McCaffrey as limited at today’s practice due to a calf issue.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 4, 2025
Now, the 49ers and fans alike are watching closely to see how serious this latest calf issue might be. Training camp had shown McCaffrey moving freely and looking sharp, with Shanahan praising him last month for resembling the player who dominated in 2023.
“Christian looked great yesterday, fast, strong, and sharp — really like his old self,” Shanahan said. “I just want him happy. He’s quick, he’s powerful, he’s Christian McCaffrey.” Teammates have echoed those sentiments. Left tackle Trent Williams told reporters in August that McCaffrey was “100 percent healthy.”
Shanahan is set to provide a full update after Friday’s practice, which should clarify whether the limited session was precautionary or due to a minor injury sustained in practice. Should McCaffrey be sidelined for Sunday’s opener against the Seahawks, the 49ers plan to rely heavily on newly acquired Brian Robinson to carry the team’s rushing workload.
