Downplays absence during preseason

McCaffrey (undisclosed) said Sunday that he always planned to take a break during training camp and then "ramp back up," Vic Tafur of The Athletic reports.

McCaffrey returned to practice and participated in team drills Sunday after he had been sitting out with general "tightness" since the beginning of training camp. The 30-year-old running back added Sunday that the media attention around his absence was a "firestorm", and that he plans to take eight to 10 practices to ramp up before taking one more break before returning ahead of Week 1, according to Jennifer Lee Chan of NBC Sports Bay Area. McCaffrey recorded a career-high 311 carries for 1,202 yards and 10 touchdowns across 17 regular-season games last year. San Francisco will open the 2026 campaign versus the Rams on Thursday, Sept. 10.