Christian McCaffrey’s absence not contract-related per new report

The San Francisco 49ers' offseason has not been marred by contract issues, despite rumors suggesting running back Christian McCaffrey's absence from practice was due to contractual reasons, according to a new report. Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio had previously speculated that McCaffrey's "tightness" could have been a ploy to stall a new contract, following when the Detroit Lions and Atlanta Falcons signed players to multi-million dollar deals.

However, NFL Media's Ian Rapoport debunked those claims by stating that McCaffrey is actually dealing with tightness, and contract discussions between the 49ers and the star running back had not progressed far in the offseason. The 49ers are taking extra precautions with McCaffrey due to his crucial role in the team and his age 30 season, during which he has missed significant portions of playtime in previous years.

It is likely that McCaffrey will miss a significant portion of the preseason, with his return expected without a new contract.