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The San Francisco 49ers are gearing up for the 2026 season as training camp is in full swing. The franchise has caught fans’ attention as star running back Christian McCaffrey has missed more than a week of practice. The organization has said that McCaffrey is dealing with some “tightness.” However, his extended absence has fueled speculation about whether there could be more to the situation. Ex-NFL Scout Flags 49ers’ Christian McCaffrey Contract Issue Former NFL scout John Middlekauff talked about the situation on his “3 & Out” podcast and said: “Next year, his contract has no guaranteed money,In the NFL, when you have no guaranteed money, it’s almost like an insurance policy for a team. [Expletive] goes great; we’ll figure out the contract extension; we’ll guarantee that contract. But if it goes bad, Peyton Manning got cut; that’s all I have to say.” Since the three-time First-Team All-Pro has missed more than a week of practice, speculation has emerged over whether his absence could be related to the market-resetting contract extensions signed by Jahmyr Gibbs and Bijan Robinson. McCaffrey is currently among the NFL’s highest-paid running backs in terms of average annual value and is under contract with San Francisco through the 2027 season. McCaffrey also handled a massive workload last season and was heavily involved both as a runner and a receiver. Considering his importance to the 49ers’ offense and the recent surge in the running back market, it would not be unrealistic for McCaffrey to eventually seek a short-term extension or raise that puts him closer to the NFL’s highest-paid players at the position. Middlekauff also pointed out that even Hall of Famers like Peyton Manning have been cut under certain circumstances. In other words, McCaffrey may not be untouchable either, as far-fetched as that possibility might seem. “I never fault players for getting ugly with contracts, “The Niners find themselves in these positions, where it’s like we paid all these guys and then they constantly need raises. Players have more juice now.” “The Niners often find themselves in positions where their players have all the leverage. I do think that Christian McCaffrey’s like, ‘What are you gonna do, play without me? Good luck; you know you can’t, Kyle. You know you want to give me the ball every single play.’” For now, however, there is no confirmation that McCaffrey’s absence is connected to his contract. Head coach Kyle Shanahan has pushed back on that speculation, maintaining that the running back’s absence is health-related. Still, McCaffrey’s value to San Francisco is difficult to overlook. He remains one of the most important pieces of Shanahan’s offense, and his heavy workload last season further demonstrated how much the 49ers rely on him. Whether his recent absence remains nothing more than a precaution or eventually leads to another conversation about his contract will be something to watch as the 49ers move closer to the start of the regular season. Follow me here on Gridiron Heroics and get the latest on the world of NFL and college football. From the drama surrounding Shedeur Sanders, Bill Belichick – Jordon Hudson tea, Brittany Mahomes’ stylish looks to Taylor Swift’s appearances on Chiefs game days, this will be your one-stop shop for all NFL and college football stuff. You can also reach out to Prasen Singh via email at [email protected]. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest sports news, click here!