SANTA CLARA — Christian McCaffrey’s back is aching, understandably so. His 399 touches are the most ever in a 49ers season.
The 49ers’ offensive workhorse has yet to miss a game this season, but a “stiff” back kept him from Tuesday’s 5 p.m. walk-through practice at Levi’s Stadium, ahead of Saturday’s high-stakes kickoff against the Seattle Seahawks for the NFC playoffs’ No. 1 seed.
McCaffrey said his back issue is “not serious” and seemed upbeat during his routine yet lengthy media session at his locker.
Also shelved Tuesday were left tackle Trent Williams (hamstring), fullback Kyle Juszczyk (hip) and defensive lineman Keion White (groin).
Tight end George Kittle was cleared to practice in a limited capacity, a week after spraining an ankle at Indianapolis and missing Sunday night’s 42-38 win over the Chicago Bears.
Others limited: wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (knee, ankle), defensive lineman Yetur Gross-Matos (hamstring), and cornerback Upton Stout (concussion protocol).
Coach Kyle Shanahan wished his team’s regular-season finale would come Sunday and afford players more time to recover, but there’s no time to gripe now with the stakes so high.
Winning will vault the 49ers (12-4) past the Seahawks (13-3) for the NFC playoffs’ No. 1 seed, as well as their fourth NFC West title in coach Kyle Shanahan’s nine seasons (and third in four years). The 49ers would own the first tiebreaker against the Seahawks by having swept the home-and-away series, which began with a 17-13 win in Seattle in Week 1.
Losing will send the 49ers into next weekend’s wild-card round as either the Nos. 5 or 6 seed, dependent on whether the Los Angeles Rams (11-5) lose a third straight game Sunday when they host the Arizona Cardinals (3-13). (The Rams, if they win after a Niners loss, would own the tiebreaker for the No. 5 seed by virtue of a better record against common opponents, at 9-3 vs. 8-4.)
Sunday night, McCaffrey’s back required attention from the medical staff in the final minutes, but he remained in the game and played a key role in their go-ahead touchdown drive.
Two weeks ago, McCaffrey was added to the 49ers’ injury report after reporting back tightness the day before their win over Tennessee.