Christian McCaffrey Injury Update: Hamstring Keeps 49ers Star Out Wednesday

Christian McCaffrey did not practice Wednesday because of a hamstring injury as the San Francisco 49ers returned from their bye and prepared to face the Las Vegas Raiders. The official matchup injury report lists him as a nonparticipant, with later practice sessions and a final game designation still to come.

The report does not rule McCaffrey out for Sunday. It records his participation at the opening practice of the week. Thursday and Friday provide further opportunities for the running back to return to work before San Francisco issues its final availability decision.

The injury dates to the loss at Atlanta before the bye, which left San Francisco with six wins and one loss. In an October update published by the 49ers, coach Kyle Shanahan described a mild hamstring strain after the problem was thought to involve McCaffrey’s thigh. Shanahan expressed optimism about his recovery after the break without guaranteeing a return.

That earlier assessment remains background rather than a new clearance. Wednesday’s absence is the current practice evidence. The two reports describe different points in the recovery process and should be read with their dates attached.

McCaffrey was not the only prominent San Francisco player missing from the opening session. The same official report lists receivers Deebo Samuel and Mike Evans as nonparticipants. Nick Bosa was limited, giving the team a separate return to monitor on defense.

For fantasy managers, the practical decision is to retain an alternative while the later reports develop. A missed Wednesday practice alone does not establish a replacement starter or a reduced workload if McCaffrey is eventually active.

Kaelon Black offers relevant running back depth after scoring against Atlanta, but an expanded Sunday role still depends on McCaffrey’s availability and the team’s personnel decisions. San Francisco’s next practice update will help narrow an unresolved question.