Christian McCaffrey just hit the practice field for the San Francisco 49ers, making cuts and looking absolutely explosive during team drills on Tuesday. If you’re a rival in the NFC West, you’re probably sweating, because this dude looks ready to roll for Week 1. After weeks of speculation and missing over two weeks of training camp due to what was called “general tightness,” seeing him back on the field is a massive win for the Niners offense as they prep for their opener against the Los Angeles Rams in Australia.
CMC Is Back, And The Numbers Don’t Lie
This isn’t just a casual return; McCaffrey is coming off the heaviest workload season of his entire career. Last year, he piled up a ridiculous 413 total touches. We’re talking 311 rushes for 1,202 yards and 10 touchdowns, plus another 102 receptions for 924 yards and seven touchdowns through the air. That’s superstar production, plain and simple. While it’s still unclear if this recent “tightness” had anything to do with the Achilles tendinitis that sidelined him in 2024, or if it was just a smart precaution, his current practice performance is an encouraging sign. With Mike Evans and rookie De’Zhaun Stribling joining Brock Purdy and a healthy McCaffrey, this 49ers offense is looking like one of the most intriguing units in the entire league, ready to make some serious noise.
Gordon’s Lingering Injury Troubles The Bears
Meanwhile, over in Chicago, things aren’t looking nearly as clear for defensive back Kyler Gordon. Bears general manager Ryan Poles expressed some serious uncertainty on Tuesday about Gordon’s return. The guy signed a three-year, $40 million extension back in April 2025, but he’s only played in five games since then and has been out the entire offseason recovering from a lingering calf injury. When reporters asked Poles if he even envisions Gordon playing during the upcoming 2026 season, his response was guarded, to say the least. “I don’t know. I would hope so,” Poles admitted, “I still have hope there. He’s going to have to continue to work hard and get back to playing.” He wouldn’t give specifics on the recovery, only saying Gordon’s working with both team trainers and outside medical help. Poles summed it up perfectly: “When people come back from injuries, there’s different things that happen… Sometimes they return fast, sometimes they’re slow. So it’s really a timing thing and a healing thing and a confidence thing.” That kind of uncertainty is brutal for a team building its roster.
Elsewhere, New England Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson is still sidelined, rehabilitating an ankle injury. And Pittsburgh Steelers Joey Porter Jr. gave the ultimate “who knows?” when asked if he’ll play in Week 1, simply responding, “I don’t know.”
As Week 1 approaches, some teams are getting major boosts, while others are holding their breath. McCaffrey looks ready for prime time in Australia, but the situations in Chicago and Pittsburgh? Those are still very much up in the air.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
Leave a Reply