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McCaffrey Returns After Thigh Injury in 49ers Win
Confirmed
In Short: San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey returned to the game after suffering a thigh injury against the Atlanta Falcons.
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey returned to the game after suffering a thigh injury during the first half against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.
McCaffrey was hurt after scoring a 1-yard touchdown, giving the 49ers an early lead.
He was checked out in the injury tent and then came back out to do some running on the sideline with his helmet on.
McCaffrey returned to the field for San Francisco’s first possession of the third quarter.
In six games this year, McCaffrey has rushed for 350 yards and seven touchdowns while averaging 4.5 yards per carry.
McCaffrey was voted as the No. 6 player in the NFL's 'Top 100 Players of 2026' list, highlighting his importance to the team.
The 49ers have named McCaffrey as one of their eight team captains for the 2026 NFL season.
McCaffrey's injury history includes a PCL sprain in 2024, a pedal Achilles sprain in the same year, a left calf strain in 2023, and a thigh hamstring strain in 2021.
The San Francisco 49ers look like the best team in football to start the 2026 season, and keeping McCaffrey healthy and productive has been a big reason why.
The other top-earning running backs in the NFL include Saquon Barkley of the Eagles at $20.6 million per year, Christian McCaffrey of the 49ers at $19 million per year, Devon Achane of the Dolphins at $16 million per year, and Derrick Henry of the Ravens at $15 million per year.
Backup running back Kaelon Black picked up where McCaffrey left off by ripping a 30-yard touchdown run as McCaffrey was getting looked at on the bench.
What this adds
The team has also made clear through its injury reporting that there is no current designation keeping McCaffrey from playing.
What's confirmed
- San Francisco 49ers star Christian McCaffrey left the game against the Atlanta Falcons with a thigh injury but was able to return in the second half.
- Purdy threw a touchdown pass, Christian McCaffrey ran for two scores and the 49ers made two late stops to hold off the Washington Commanders 23-17 on Monday night for their sixth straight win to open the season.
What's still developing
- He initially went to the locker room following the setback: Although he was getting a lot of work on the sidelines during the first half, McCaffrey did get back into the game in the second half.
- McCaffrey also received a Pro Bowl nod after suiting up in all 17 regular-season contests during his 2025 campaign.
- His injury history goes back further, as he played in just 44 of a possible 68 regular-season contests from 2021-24.
- The star running back arrives in Australia as one of the most important pieces of Kyle Shanahan’s offense, with San Francisco hoping to begin its Super Bowl push with a statement victory against one of its biggest NFC rivals.
- The team has also made clear through its injury reporting that there is no current designation keeping him from playing.
- Jahmyr Gibbs (ADP of 1), Bijan Robinson (2), Jonathan Taylor (5), Christian McCaffrey (7) and James Cook (9) are generally being picked in the first round, while Ja'Marr Chase (3) is the first receiver going off the board, with Puka Nacua (4) and Jaxon Smith-Njigba (6) close behind.
- McCaffrey enters his third season as a 49ers captain after previously serving as a captain with the Carolina Panthers from 2019-22.
- The San Francisco 49ers have named their eight team captains for the 2026 NFL season, with DL Nick Bosa, FB Kyle Juszczyk, TE George Kittle, DB Deommodore Lenoir, RB Christian McCaffrey, QB Brock Purdy, LB Fred Warner, and T Trent Williams earning the honor.
- — Brock Purdy threw two touchdown passes and Christian McCaffrey ran for a score to lead the undefeated San Francisco 49ers to a 24-14 victory over the Denver Broncos on Sunday.
- He then engineered a 74-yard drive that McCaffrey finished with a 1-yard run to extend the lead to 17-6 midway through the fourth after the Broncos (2-2) had settled for a field goal on fourth-and-2.
- San Francisco pulled away with a Christian McCaffrey touchdown run, and Bo Nix then led a late Denver push with a touchdown pass to Jaylen Waddle and a successful two-point try.
- San Francisco expanded the lead to 20-3 late in the half on McCaffrey’s second touchdown run as the Niners gained as many first downs (17) in the first half as the Commanders ran plays.