Christian McCaffrey’s absence from San Francisco 49ers practice isn’t about contract drama, despite speculation that their star running back was holding out for a new deal. NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport dropped the truth bomb, reporting that McCaffrey is actually dealing with legitimate tightness, not faking it to push for more cash. This is after Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio openly wondered if McCaffrey’s “tightness” was just a cover-up, especially since guys like Jahmyr Gibbs for the Lions and Bijan Robinson for the Falcons just locked down contracts north of $22 million annually. Talk about a payday, right?
The Money, The Touches, And The Truth
Here’s the thing, though: the contract speculation didn’t come from nowhere. McCaffrey, who absolutely led the NFL in touches last season, is currently playing on a deal that averages $19 million a year. Sounds pretty sweet until you realize there is *zero* guaranteed money left on that bad boy. Zero. You can see why a guy might want to talk a new deal, especially when other running backs are cashing in huge. Rapoport mentioned that any earlier contract talks between McCaffrey and the 49ers this offseason didn’t even get far. It’s wild to think a player that vital to their whole offense has that kind of contract situation. San Francisco knows how important McCaffrey is, so being extra cautious with any injury makes total sense. And yeah, his importance is exactly why he’d be looking for a bit more dough, especially with no guarantees.
Age 30, History, And the Looming Opener
But here’s the catch 22: San Francisco also has to be super careful with how they handle McCaffrey. He’s heading into his age 30 season, and let’s be real, his injury history is no secret. This isn’t the first time he’s led the NFL in touches and then missed a ton of time. He’s actually done it twice before last season, playing a combined total of only seven games in the two seasons that followed those high-touch years. That’s a huge chunk of missed time for a cornerstone player. It wouldn’t shock anyone if McCaffrey sits out most of the remaining preseason games just to make sure he’s fully geared up and ready for their big Sept. 10 opener. That game isn’t just any game, either; it’s a huge matchup against the Los Angeles Rams all the way out in Australia! Don’t expect him to trot back out onto the field with a new deal in hand though. That part, according to reports, isn’t happening anytime soon.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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