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Kyle Shanahan said he doesn’t believe the speculation about star running back Christian McCaffrey is true.
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Pro Football Talk on Monday posted an article that said some in “league circles” believe the 49ers running back was missing practice due to a contract standoff rather than unspecified “tightness,” as the team has said.
“I think people make a lot of assumptions, and that would be one that they’re wrong on,” Shanahan told reporters Tuesday after a joint practice in El Segundo against the Los Angeles Chargers.
McCaffrey has been out since practicing for the first two weeks of training camp. His absence came around the same time three other star runnings backs around the NFL signed lucrative contracts: Jahmyr Gibbs (Detroit Lions), Bijan Robinson (Atlanta Falcons) and Jonathan Taylor (Indianapolis Colts).
McCaffrey, who turned 30 in June, has minimal cash guarantees remaining on his deal that’s good through next season while his average annual salary of $19 million ranks fifth at the position.
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The 49ers have maintained McCaffrey’s absence is precautionary, though any absence is notable given what happened leading into 2024, when McCaffrey wound up missing the first eight games of the season due to bilateral Achilles tendinitis after his status was downplayed leading into the season.
Still, Shanahan sounded optimistic about McCaffrey’s status.
“I think if it wasn’t Christian, and we were in a game week, I think he would have played today,” Shanahan said.
The 49ers will take on the Chargers in their second preseason game on Thursday. McCaffrey won’t play, but the 49ers could see rookie third-round draft pick Kaelon Black, who returned to practice Tuesday after missing most training camp with an adductor strain. Second-year player Jordan James has remained out with a rib injury.
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