49ers RB Christian McCaffrey Unlikely To Participate In Preseason

According to Nick Wagoner, 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey is unlikely to participate in the preseason due to a calf strain.

The team recently signed the superstar running back to a two-year, $38 million extension. McCaffrey had been absent from voluntary OTAs in San Francisco but reported for mandatory minicamp after signing the deal. 

McCaffrey, 27, is a former first-round pick of the Panthers back in 2017. He was entering the final year of his four-year, $17.224 million contract when the Panthers signed him to a new four-year, $64 million contract extension that also included his expected fifth-year option.

Carolina opted to restructure McCaffrey’s deal before trading him to the 49ers in exchange for a 2023 second, third, and fourth-round pick, as well as a fifth-round pick in 2024.

He was due base salaries of $11.8 million and $12 million over the final two years of the deal before signing his new extension.

In 2023, McCaffrey appeared in 16 games for the 49ers and rushed for 1,459 yards on 272 carries (5.4 YPC) to go along with 67 receptions for 564 yards receiving and 21 total touchdowns.

We will have more on McCaffrey as it becomes available.