San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey is expected to play Sunday against the Tennessee Titans, according to insider reporting from ESPN’s Adam Schefter and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, even after he was added late to the injury report with a back issue.
What changed with Christian McCaffrey’s status
McCaffrey’s status became a major talking point after he popped up on Saturday’s injury report and was listed questionable for Week 15. Heavy previously noted how quickly the news drove fan concern and “Christian McCaffrey injury” searches as people looked for clarity ahead of kickoff.
The late addition was especially notable because McCaffrey had been managing the week in a fairly routine way before that: he missed time earlier in the week with an illness, then returned to full participation, which led many to believe he’d be headed into the weekend clean.
The “final” insider update: expected to play vs. Titans
Here’s the key update for anyone refreshing for a last-minute ruling: Rapoport reported McCaffrey should be “good to go” despite the questionable tag, and Schefter reported a source said he’s expected to be “good to go” against Tennessee.
That doesn’t mean the concern is meaningless, it just means the league’s top information guys are signaling the same direction: McCaffrey is trending toward playing.
What it means for the 49ers vs. Titans (and what to watch)
Even if McCaffrey is active, there’s a realistic “management” scenario to keep in mind. NFL.com noted McCaffrey’s massive workload (over 300 touches) and raised the possibility the 49ers could be smart with him if the game flow allows it.
So if you’re looking for the most practical “final” checklist:
- If McCaffrey is active: expect him to start, but watch for any snap/series management if San Francisco gets comfortable.
- If something changes in warmups: the 49ers have Brian Robinson as the next-man-up option, as Heavy noted when the back issue first hit.
- The one thing to verify: the official inactives list when it posts close to kickoff (that’s the only true lock).
McCaffrey has been the center of San Francisco’s offense all season, entering Week 15 with 849 rushing yards and 806 receiving yards plus 13 total touchdowns — production that has him tracking toward another rare 1,000 rushing/1,000 receiving type year. That’s a big reason why the 49ers (9-4) are still very much in the NFC West mix, even with the Rams and Seahawks ahead in the standings.
Even if McCaffrey is active, San Francisco has a clear contingency plan if his back tightens up in-game. Brian Robinson is the next option, with Isaac Guerendo and rookie Jordan James also available in the rotation, per ESPN’s reporting. The matchup also lines up favorably on paper: the Titans (2-11) have struggled defensively and allowed 353 carries, 1,592 rushing yards (4.5 YPC) and 18 rushing TDs this season. The game is set for Sunday, December 14, 2025, in the late-afternoon window at 4:25 p.m. ET at Levi’s Stadium.
McCaffrey has been the engine of San Francisco’s offense all season, and this late injury-report twist is exactly why it turned into a headline-level story across the NFL news cycle.
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This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
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