McCaffrey isn't warming up ahead of Saturday's preseason contest versus the Chargers, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

McCaffrey won't see any exhibition action this year, but by all accounts he's been looking like his pre-2024 self after dealing with Achilles tendinitis in both legs and a PCL sprain in his right knee last season. In parts of three campaigns since being traded from Carolina to San Francisco in October 2022, he's averaged 115.5 yards from scrimmage per game and scored 31 TDs in 31 regular-season games.

McCaffrey will not join Brock Purdy and the majority of San Francisco's starters in suiting up for Saturday's preseason game against the Raiders, David Lombardi of SFStandard.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

McCaffrey has been a full-go at training camp, but the 49ers will opt to rest him for a second consecutive preseason game. The veteran running back's final opportunity to handle exhibition reps will come Saturday, Aug. 23 against the Chargers, but it remains to be seen whether San Francisco will consider allowing him to suit up, or take a conservative to the All-Pro's health until Week 1. With Isaac Guerendo (shoulder) and Jordan James (finger) both nursing injuries, a combination of Patrick Taylor, Ke'Shawn Vaughn, Corey Kiner and Jeff Wilson will handle backfield reps on Saturday.

McCaffrey is not in line to play in Saturday's preseason opener against the Broncos, Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle and David Lombardi of SFStandard.com report.

EDGE Analysis

With Isaac Guerendo (shoulder) and Jordan James (finger) both injured, Patrick Taylor, Ameer Abdullah, Ke'Shawn Vaughnand Corey Kiner are available to handle the 49ers' backfield reps Saturday. It's unclear if McCaffrey will see action next Saturday against the Raiders, but it wouldn't surprise us if the 49ers continued to play it safe with their star running back ahead of Week 1.

Coach Kyle Shanahan said Tuesday that McCaffrey is "here and healthy" for the start of 49ers training camp, but the running back's workload will be managed in advance of the regular season, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

After a 2024 season in which he missed 13 games due to Achilles tendinitis in both legs and a PCL sprain in his right knee, McCaffrey didn't have any restrictions during the offseason program and appears to be back to his normal self as camp kicks off. FB Kyle Juszczyk spoke highly of the 29-year-old McCaffrey two weekends ago at the American Century Championship in Lake Tahoe, telling Vic Tafur of The Athletic, "Christian is arguably the best player in the NFL. He was the offensive player of the year two years ago. ... He looks so healthy, he looks so explosive." McCaffrey mustered just 348 yards from scrimmage and no touchdowns on 65 touches in his four appearances last season, but in the aforementioned, award-winning 2023 campaign, he put up 2,023 total yards and 21 TDs in 16 regular-season games.

McCaffrey was one of a few 49ers veterans to participate in 11-on-11 work during mandatory minicamp, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

McCaffrey has been trending well from a health perspective this offseason, after struggling with both Achilles and knee issues in 2024. He practiced without restrictions in OTAs and then ramped up his activity further during mandatory minicamp. McCaffrey relayed that he wanted to test his health and was satisfied with the results as he turns his focus to the 2025 season.

McCaffrey is participating in the offseason program without any restrictions, ESPN.com's Nick Wagoner reports.

EDGE Analysis

Coach Kyle Shanahan declared McCaffrey healthy in early April, which wasn't surprising after the running back told reporters in early January that he was already almost back to full strength. The 49ers then traded Jordan Mason to the Vikings and allowed Elijah Mitchell to sign with the Chiefs, leaving 2024 fourth-round pick Isaac Guerendo as McCaffrey's likely backup for 2025. McCaffrey missed the first eight games of last season with Achilles tendinitis in both legs, later missing the final five games because of a PCL sprain in his right knee. It was his third time in the past five years missing double-digit games, but he played either 16 or 17 regular-season games in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022 and 2023. McCaffrey is under contract through 2027 after signing an extension last summer, albeit with no guaranteed money beyond 2025.

San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan said last week that McCaffrey (knee) is healthy and doing well, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

EDGE Analysis

Shanahan also mentioned the possibility of drafting another running back to join McCaffrey and 2024 fourth-round pick Isaac Guerendo. The 49ers traded Jordan Mason to the Vikings and lost Elijah Mitchell to the Chiefs in free agency, thinning out a backfield that was devastated by injuries last season. McCaffrey missed the first eight games with Achilles tendinitis and the final five games with a PCL sprain, ultimately taking 65 touches for 346 yards and no TDs in four appearances -- his third time playing fewer than half of the games in a season. He's apparently healthy well before the start of OTAs, but concerns about durability will continue to impact McCaffrey's fantasy value for his age-29 season ahead. It remains to be seen if his Achilles tendons, in particular, can hold up to the kind of workloads Shanahan typically has given him, though perhaps he is trying to avoid having to find out the answer to that question if the team does in fact add another running back to the mix.

McCaffrey (knee) said Monday he's "definitely close" to 100 percent healthy and could have played had the 49ers qualified for the playoffs, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

McCaffrey will turn his full attention toward making a recovery for OTAs, with San Francisco having failed to attain a playoff berth. The star running back missed the final five games of the regular season due to a PCL injury in his right knee, after having had his 2024 debut delayed until Week 10 due to a calf strain and bilateral Achilles tendinitis. Ensuring McCaffrey is able to enter the 2025 campaign at full health will be among the 49ers' top offseason priorities, in addition to a potential contract extension for quarterback Brock Purdy (elbow).

The 49ers placed McCaffrey (knee) on injured reserve Tuesday.

EDGE Analysis

Just as head coach Kyle Shanahan suggested Monday would be the case, McCaffrey was moved off the 53-man roster after the running back suffered a PCL sprain in his right knee during Sunday's 35-10 loss to the Bills. Shanahan said that McCaffrey will likely need around six weeks to recover from the injury, so he'll miss the rest of the regular season and may return to action only if the 5-7 49ers make a surprise playoff run. McCaffrey should be back to full strength for the offseason program and will be entering the final guaranteed year of his contract in 2025. After spending the first nine weeks of the season on IR while recovering from a calf strain and bilateral Achilles tendinitis, McCaffrey appeared in just four games in 2024, failing to score a touchdown while carrying 50 times for 202 yards and recording 15 receptions for 146 yards on 19 targets.

The 49ers plan to place McCaffrey (knee) on injured reserve, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

EDGE Analysis

Coach Kyle Shanahan announced Monday that McCaffrey suffered a PCL injury in his knee, and he will be sidelined at least six weeks, Rapoport added. McCaffrey was injured in the first half of Sunday night's eventual loss to the Bills, and he's now going to miss the rest of the regular season. In addition, McCaffrey's backup, Jordan Mason, suffered a high-ankle sprain against Buffalo and also is heading to IR, knocking him out until at least Week 18. The development vaults Isaac Guerendo into the 49ers' RB1 spot atop the depth chart, making him a priority add in all fantasy leagues. Patrick Taylor currently is on the team's practice squad but likely will be promoted this week.