SANTA CLARA — Christian McCaffrey had on his 49ers helmet, No. 23 jersey, white gloves, black sweatpants and white cleats. He looked ready for Friday’s practice and Sunday’s season opener.
Looks can be deceiving. Or encouraging.
Whether another calf issue will keep him out of another season opener is yet to be answered.
Coach Kyle Shanahan will address reporters after practice and provide McCaffrey’s official status for Sunday’s opener in Seattle against the Seahawks (1:05 p.m., FOX).
McCaffrey warmed up on his own as Friday’s walk-through practice began and did not join his fellow running backs for their initial drill during the media’s 10-minute access window.
McCaffrey did not appear hindered as he went through his typical activation exercises (start, stop, weave, high knees). Head trainer Dustin Little kept an eye on McCaffrey, but neither Shanahan nor general manager John Lynch fixated on McCaffrey and casually chatted nearby.
Brian Robinson Jr., acquired two weeks ago from Washington, and Isaac Guerendo, a second-year back, are the next men up if McCaffrey is out his second straight season opener. Rookie Jordan James and practice-squad rusher Sincere McCormick are other options.
A year ago, McCaffrey insisted he would overcome his calf issue and play in the season opener. He was listed as questionable, then got scratched before kickoff and missed two months with Achilles tendinitis.
McCaffrey spoke three days before that win over the New York Jets and said his calf felt “much better” and his Achilles was “not a concern for me.”
Althought he missed four weeks of practice over last year’s training camp and the preseason, he was a constant fixture throughout this year’s offseason program and camp, following the 49ers’ plan that included a couple of practices off.
Two weeks into training camp, McCaffrey was looking and feeling more than just good. “I feel great, man,” McCaffrey said after an Aug. 7 joint practice against the Denver Broncos. “Every day, I don’t take it for granted. I’ve been through a lot as far as injuries go in my career, and I’ve had to come back from a lot.”
McCaffrey sat out a fifth straight preseason, all while impressing the 49ers with his maniacal approach to practice and conditioning.
Lynch raved about McCaffrey on KNBR-680 Thursday morning, well before his limited practice: “Obviously, our bellcow and one of the better players in the league is Christian. Having him healthy is just a godsend for our team. He looks tremendous.”
McCaffrey ran for over 100 yards in each of his past two trips to Seattle, rushing for three touchdowns combined in those 2022 and ’23 victories.
He didn’t miss any of Carolina’s first 50 games after they drafted him in the 2017 first round out of Stanford. Since then, he’s missed 32-of-82 because of injuries.
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In 2020, a combination of ankle, shoulder and thigh injuries shelved him for 13 games. In 2021, a hamstring put him on Injured Reserve five games. He played every game in 2022, the first six with Carolina before the 49ers’ 14-game march to the NFC title game. In 2023, a calf issue surfaced and kept him out of a meaningless regular-season finale for the eventual NFC champs. Last season, the calf issue cropped up in camp, then cast him out the first eight games, before a four-game return was halted by a posterior cruciate ligament tear Dec. 1 at Buffalo to end his season (but not require surgery).