Christian McCaffrey will play in Week 15 despite a back injury

The The San Francisco 49ers (9-4) will face the Tennessee Titans (2-11) in Week 15 at Levi’s Stadium, with all eyes on the breakout star Christian McCaffrey. McCaffrey added a late injury report on Saturday with a back issue, earning a dubious label.

However, San Francisco fans can breathe a sigh of relief as NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported late Saturday night that The 29-year-old is ready on Sunday despite a minor setback.

McCaffrey has been the engine of the 49ers offense this season. He has appeared in all 13 regular season games so far this year after playing just four games the previous season due to an Achilles injury and knee injuries. He carried the ball 237 times for 849 yards and eight rushing touchdowns, plus five receiving touchdowns, for a total of 13 points this season. In the passing game, he had 85 receptions for 806 yards and five scores. His 322 touches put him atop the league in carries, trailing only the Atlanta Falcons’ Bian Robinson and the Indianapolis Colts’ Jonathan Taylor in total yards. At his current pace, McCaffrey is on track to surpass 1,100 rushing yards and 1,050 receiving yards, potentially becoming the first player in NFL history to achieve 1,000-plus seasons in both rushing and receiving.

McCaffrey had an unusual week before the injury report. He took the usual veteran’s day off on Wednesday. practiced in a limited capacity Thursday due to illnessand then practiced fully on Friday. The last question probably developed after the session on Friday or sometime on Saturday.

If McCaffrey is limited or unable to play, Brian Robinson Jr. would step into the starting role. Robinson averaged 4.6 yards per carry this season as a sophomore running back and previously ran for 103 yards and a touchdown against Tennessee in 2024 while with the Washington Commanders. Additional depth would be provided by backup options Isaac Gerendo, primarily a special teams contributor, and rookie Jordan James, who has yet to see game action this season.

San Francisco’s offense has overcome significant injury challenges outside of McCaffrey this season. Quarterback Brock Purdy and tight end George Kittle missed extended periods, while defensive end Nick Bosa and rookie pass rusher Mikel Williams were lost to season-ending ACL tears. Linebacker Tatum Bethune, defensive backs Sam Okuainonu and Jetur Gross-Matos, as well as Fred Warner (ankle) and Eric Kendricks (calf) will also be unavailable Sunday.

Regardless, the 49ers remain in contention in the NFC, chasing the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks in the NFC West. A win over the Titans would improve their playoff prospects and give them momentum heading into the final stretch of the season.