SANTA CLARA – Way back in December 2019, the 49ers won an epic shootout in New Orleans, 48-46, to highlight their Super Bowl push. In the Saints’ previous game at their famed Superdome, an opposing running back put up impressive numbers, too.
Christian McCaffrey totaled 133 yards from scrimmage and scored two touchdowns, though it could not prevent a Carolina Panthers’ loss amid an eight-game skid to finish the season.
Last Sunday, McCaffrey proved in the 49ers’ season-opening win in Seattle he is still a rushing-and-receiving double threat. Those skills were in great demand as the 49ers made due without tight end George Kittle in that 17-13 win, and now McCaffrey might have to shoulder an even greater load Sunday when the 49ers (1-0) visit the Saints (0-1).
Brock Purdy’s toe injury kept him out of a second straight practice Thursday, thus thrusting Mac Jones into the starting quarterback role, possibly for an extended stretch. It seems the 49ers could be without Purdy, Kittle and Brandon Aiyuk for another month.
“Everybody just has to do their job,” McCaffrey said. “Whether Brock’s playing or not, it comes down to everybody executing at a high level and keeping it that simple, not trying to do anything special. That’s pretty much consistent every week.”
#49ers practice is underway
DNP
Brock Purdy
Conditioning on side with trainer
WR Jauan Jennings (shoulder)
LT Trent Williams (knee/rest)
Back in action
RB Christian McCaffrey (calf/rest)
DE Nick Bosa (rest)
DL Yetur Gross-Matos (knee)
G Bartch, Puni (knee)
WR Watkins
RB James pic.twitter.com/FkvczcxYSz
— Cam Inman (@CamInman) September 11, 2025
McCaffrey is so special that, despite calf tightness three earlier, the 49ers had him play 58 snaps Sunday, with 22 carries (69 yards) and nine receptions (73 yards). He didn’t score, so his touchdown drought goes back to the 2023 season’s Super Bowl.
McCaffrey returned to practice Thursday after not taking part Wednesday, because of last week’s calf issue and a routine rest day; defensive linemen Nick Bosa (rest) and Yetur Gross-Matos (knee) also returned, while left tackle Trent Williams (knee) and wide receiver Jauan Jennings (shoulder) conditioned on the side.
“The cool thing to know is Christian is just getting going,” general manager John Lynch said on KNBR 680-AM. “He’s going to keep playing at a high level because that’s just who he is.”
Injuries kept him from playing all but four games last season, however. So Lynch acknowledged there was “probably some form of PTSD from last year” when McCaffrey exited last Thursday’s practice. “There was kind of an ominous feeling out there Thursday when he pulled himself. The trainers decided to keep him out,” Lynch said. “Shortly there after we felt like we averted anything significant here. And then turns to, `Is he going to be all right to play?’ Sure looked like it to me.”
McCaffrey said Wednesday he “feels great” and again downplayed last week’s calf issue: “It was nothing serious. It never was. I knew I was going to play. I just wanted to be smart with it.”
The smart money was on Brian Robinson Jr. splitting time in his 49ers debut. Robinson played 18 snaps and had nine carries (33 yards) plus a 4-yard reception.
“He ran hard. He’s such a good addition to our team and such a good guy to put in there and not miss a beat,” McCaffrey said. “Fired up to share the room. He’s only going to get better the more comfortable he gets in our offense. Coach T. (Bobby Turner) has been getting him right. Sometimes, learning game-plan to game-plan is easier than going through the whole training camp.”
Isaac Guerendo did not get a carry as the third back last week, and rookie Jordan James’ surgically repaired finger is healthy enough to potentially make his debut Sunday, Lynch said.
For McCaffrey, he played annually at the Superdome from 2017-20, going 1-2 with the Panthers; an ankle injury kept him out of their 2021 visit.
Related Articles
49ers bracing for weeks-long Brock Purdy absence; Mac Jones in line to start at Saints
Jake Moody’s 49ers demise dwarfed in importance by loss of George Kittle
49ers kicking it across the pond as well as in the NFL
49ers’ Super Bowl history: Started with a bang, now mired in a decades long drought
Kurtenbach: You thought the 49ers’ chaos was limited to last season? Think again
“It’s definitely a loud stadium. But we’re going to play in a lot of loud stadiums,” McCaffrey said. “New Orleans has a great defense, a loud stadium, good coaches. They’re obviously well coached and have good veterans who’ve played good football for a long time.”
McCaffrey endorsed Jones’ ability to play good football in place of Purdy, adding: “Mac’s been awesome. He’s been such a good guy in the locker room and on the field. He’s shined a bunch of times in camp. He’s got a whole bunch of starts under his belt. He’s played in the NFL and has played good football before. He’s an awesome player.”
— Former 49ers listed among the 162 senior nominees for the Pro Football Hall of Fame: running back Roger Craig, tight end Brent Jones, quarterback Jim Plunkett, wide receiver Billy Wilson, center Bart Oates, linebackers Matt Millen and Keena Turner, and defensive backs Merton Hanks, Tim McDonald and Abe Woodson.