49ers ‘Aren’t Overly Concerned’ With RB Christian McCaffrey’s Calf Issue; McCaffrey Will Start In Week 1
SEPTEMBER 7: McCaffrey will start in the Niners’ regular season opener, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. A source told Schefter that CMC is “good to go.”
SEPTEMBER 6: When star running back Christian McCaffrey‘s name appeared rather suddenly on the 49ers’ injury report Thursday, a lot of fans (and fantasy owners) likely experienced some PTSD remembering McCaffrey’s 2024 campaign. For whatever it’s worth to those people, “the 49ers aren’t overly concerned” about his status this year, according to Dianna Russini of The Athletic. 
Following a season in which McCaffrey delivered a first-team All-Pro season and won Offensive Player of the Year, McCaffrey was a surprising scratch for the team’s Week 1 matchup after being limited in practice the week before with a leg issue. He had remained optimistic throughout the week about his ability to play, but when he tested his calf the day of the game, it “didn’t feel right” and the team and player opted to let him rest.
When he still couldn’t go in Week 2, the 49ers opted for an injured reserve stint. A headline-grabbing trip to Germany hinted just how bad things might be, and after returning for a four-game stretch, McCaffrey was shut down again in Week 14, this time for the remainder of the season.
The year, the offseason buzz has been all about how McCaffrey had moved past the injuries and had no physical limitations in offseason workouts. In addition to the prior offseason’s promise to reduce his regular season workload — a promise perhaps made on a monkey’s paw — the team was dedicated to reducing his offseason workload this year, as well.
Then, on Thursday, McCaffrey removed himself from practice after “tweaking his calf,” per Vic Tafur and Matt Barrows, also of The Athletic. McCaffrey asserted that the decision was precautionary in nature and not indicative of his availability, saying, “I feel great about where I’m at. Unfortunately, when you have an injury history like I have, sometimes when you don’t practice, things get, uh, blown out of proportion. But, like I said, I feel great.”
The optimism mirrors similar sentiments displayed a year ago, but Tafur and Barrows point out some differences. They say that last year, McCaffrey was frequently bothered by flare-ups of Achilles tendonitis in both legs, requiring sporadic practice appearances throughout the summer. This year, aside from the occasional veteran rest day, McCaffrey hadn’t needed to limit himself at all until Thursday.
Still, the player and team claim his rest yesterday was done out of an abundance of caution. He warmed up with the team on Friday but worked out with trainers off to the side as a non-participant in practice. He’s listed as questionable for tomorrow afternoon’s season opener in Seattle, but according to multiple sources, he’s not in a lot of pain, and he feels great about where he’s at. Even if he does miss some time, though, the team feels comfortable that newcomer Brian Robinson can help fill in.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/6/25
With our first slate of Sunday games tomorrow, we’ll see our first slew of standard gameday practice squad elevations. Here are today’s minor transactions:
Atlanta Falcons
- Elevated: WR David Sills, RB Carlos Washington Jr.
Baltimore Ravens
- Elevated: TE Zaire Mitchell-Paden
Buffalo Bills
- Elevated: G Kendrick Green, K Matt Prater
Carolina Panthers
- Signed to active roster: DT Jaden Crumedy
- Placed on IR: CB Damarri Mathis (story)
Cincinnati Bengals
- Elevated: DT Mike Pennel
Denver Broncos
- Elevated: FB Adam Prentice, LB Levelle Bailey
Detroit Lions
- Signed to active roster: RB Jacob Saylors
- Elevated: LB Anthony Pittman
- Placed on IR: T Jamarco Jones
Green Bay Packers
- Elevated: CB Micah Robinson
Houston Texans
- Elevated: FB Jakob Johnson
Indianapolis Colts
- Elevated: LB Austin Ajiake, RB Ulysses Bentley IV
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Elevated: T Ricky Lee
Las Vegas Raiders
- Elevated: WR Alex Bachman, S Terrell Edmunds
Los Angeles Rams
- Elevated: RB Cody Schrader
Miami Dolphins
- Elevated: K Riley Patterson, RB Jeff Wilson
New England Patriots
- Signed to active roster: DT Cory Durden
- Elevated: CB Corey Ballentine, LB Mark Robinson
- Released: DT Jeremiah Pharms
New Orleans Saints
- Signed to active roster: DE Fadil Diggs
- Elevated: TE Jack Stoll, DE Jonah Williams
- Waived: QB Jake Haener
New York Giants
- Elevated: DT Elijah Garcia
New York Jets
- Elevated: WR Tyler Johnson
- Placed on IR: G Alijah Vera-Tucker (story)
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Elevated: CB James Pierre
San Francisco 49ers
- Elevated: WR Russell Gage, LB Curtis Robinson
Seattle Seahawks
- Elevated: CB Shaquill Griffin, DT Quinton Bohanna
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Elevated: DT Adam Gotsis, G Michael Jordan
Tennessee Titans
- Elevated: C Corey Levin, DT Carlos Watkins
Washington Commanders
- Elevated: C Michael Deiter, WR Chris Moore
Each NFL team is granted up to two standard gameday practice squad elevations each game, allowing them to call up two members of their practice squad who are able to play in that weekend’s game. After the game is played, the elevated players revert back to the practice squad with no transaction required. This differs from the situation with somebody like Crumedy in Carolina. With Mathis’ placement on injured reserve opening a spot on the 53-man roster, Crumedy has been promoted from the practice squad to the active roster, where he will remain until he is cut or his contract expires.
Practice squad players can be called up a maximum of three times under a single practice squad contract. If a team wants to call up a player who’s been called up three times already, the team will usually sign the player to their active roster for a game, cut them after, and then sign them to a new practice squad contract. Under the new contract, the player would be eligible to be elevated for three more games.
As the Dolphins await Jason Sanders‘ return from IR, Patterson was named the winner of a kicking audition with three other veteran kickers. Miami will be able to elevate him three times but will have to promote him to the active roster for any games between that and Sanders’ activation. Similarly, Prater will likely be on the same plan in Buffalo.
Haener’s stint on the Saints’ active roster was short-lived as the team decides to move forward with only two quarterbacks. Spencer Rattler will handle starting duties to begin the campaign with second-round rookie Tyler Shough serving as his backup.
NFL Minor Transactions: 9/4/25
As we prepare for tonight’s season opener, here are Thursday’s minor moves:
Buffalo Bills
- Signed to active roster: S Sam Franklin
- Placed on IR: DT DeWayne Carter
Dallas Cowboys
- Elevated: WR Ryan Flournoy, LB Buddy Johnson
Philadelphia Eagles
- Elevated: S Marcus Epps, OLB Patrick Johnson
San Francisco 49ers
- Waived from IR: QB Carter Bradley
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Waived from IR: CB Tyrek Funderburk, LB Antonio Grier, C Jake Majors, OL Raiqwon O’Neal
John Lynch: 49ers Still Interested In Long-Term Jauan Jennings Agreement
Jauan Jennings‘ short-term future received clarity yesterday. The extension-seeking wideout worked out a compromise with the 49ers by agreeing to incentives covering the 2025 season. 
Beyond the coming year, however, it remains to be seen if Jennings will be in the fold for San Francisco. As a pending free agent, the possibility of a departure on the open market looms. It will likely take until next spring to learn Jennings’ fate, but general manager John Lynch made it clear in the wake of the restructure that a long-term commitment is still a team goal.
“We’re going to continue to try to work on a long-term deal, but right now we’ve got something, a solution, that works for everybody for the short term, and that’s a good thing for the Niners,” Lynch said during a Thursday appearance on KNBR (via David Bonilla of 49ers WebZone).
Considering the 49ers’ stance on in-season negotiating, the door is open to a Jennings agreement covering 2026 and beyond coming to fruition. Attention is currently focused on the start of the campaign, of course, and the former seventh-rounder will aim to maximize his incentives regardless of where his future lies. At a minimum, it is well known the 49ers will not look into trading Jennings.
“Some teams do have the policy, once you hit the season, they put all contracts away. That’s not something we’ve done,” Lynch added. We are going to kind of focus on going and beating Seattle right now, but we’ll continue to try to work towards that. We’ve said it many times, we love J.J., we love his presence on this team, and we want to keep him around here for a while.”
Brandon Aiyuk is attached to a $30MM-per-year deal thanks to last year’s extension. Deebo Samuel is no longer in the fold, though, and much of the rest of San Francisco’s receivers are either on rookie contracts (Ricky Pearsall, Jacob Cowing, Jordan Watkins) or short-term veteran accords (like Demarcus Robinson or recent acquisitions Skyy Moore and Marquez Valdes-Scantling). Funds could therefore exist for a Jennings raise on a new, multi-year 49ers pact depending on how negotiations progress.
Jennings, 28, comfortably set a new career high across the boards in terms of production last season, taking on a much larger workload while other wideouts missed time. Another notable role should be in store for 2025; it will be interesting to see a second straight strong season takes place, and if so whether or not a new 49ers commitment will accompany it.
49ers, WR Jauan Jennings Agree To Reworked Deal
While Jauan Jennings recently returned to practice without a new deal, it sounds like the 49ers have found a solution for his discontent over his contract. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the two sides have agreed to a deal that will add $3MM in playing-time incentives to the player’s contract.
[RELATED: 49ers’ Jauan Jennings Returns To Practice]
Attached to a two-year, $11.89MM contract that expires at season’s end, Jennings was set to earn $7.5MM in 2025. Thanks to today’s move, Jennings can now earn up to $10.5MM.
A report from July indicated that Jennings was seeking either an extension or a trade, although neither option ended up coming to fruition. The 49ers made it clear all along that they intended to keep Jennings for at least the 2025 season, and per Schefter, the organization offered a multi-year contract extension to the receiver. Instead, Jennings decided to bet on himself and accept the incentive-driven one-year raise.
A former seventh-round pick, Jennings had a breakout season in San Francisco in 2024. As the 49ers navigated a number of injuries on offense, Jennings stepped forward and hauled in 77 catches for 975 yards and six touchdowns. The 28-year-old has also earned a reputation as one of the league’s best blocking WRs; Pro Football Focus ranked him first in run blocking and 13th in pass blocking last season.
With Deebo Samuel no longer in San Francisco and Brandon Aiyuk still recovering from a torn ACL and MCL, the 49ers will be especially reliant on Jennings in 2025. While Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle will still command plenty of Brock Purdy‘s targets, the rest of the team’s receiver depth consists of former first-round pick Ricky Pearsall, recent veteran addition Marquez Valdes-Scantling, rookie Jordan Watkins, and former Chiefs draft pick Skyy Moore.
If Jennings is able to maintain his play from last season, he could be setting himself up for a lucrative contract as a 2026 free agent. The rest of the current positional free agent class includes the likes of Mike Evans, George Pickens, and Jakobi Meyers.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/3/25
Today’s practice squad moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: S J.T. Gray
- Released: CB Thomas Graham
Buffalo Bills
- Released: S Jordan Poyer
Detroit Lions
- Signed: QB C.J. Beathard
Houston Texans
- Signed: WR Silas Bolden, CB D’Angelo Ross, OT Sidy Sow
- Released: G Reid Holskey, LB K.C. Ossai, OT Jaylon Thomas
New England Patriots
- Signed: LB Darius Harris
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: CB Eli Ricks
- Released: OL Hollin Pierce
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: WR Lance McCutcheon, LB Jon Rhattigan
- Released: OL Aiden Williams
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: WR Russell Gage
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: RB Damien Martinez
Tennessee Titans
- Released: DL Isaiah Raikes
The Ravens added a notable special teamer to their taxi squad today, agreeing to a deal with veteran J.T. Gray. The 29-year-old spent his entire professional career with the Saints before getting cut by the team last week. The majority of Gray’s playing time has come on special teams, where he’s earned three All-Pro nods for his efforts. As Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic notes, the veteran will likely see a role in Baltimore, as the team is still looking to fill holes left by a handful of departed core special teamers this past offseason.
To accommodate the addition of old friend Gabe Davis to the practice squad, the Bills had to get a bit creative. Temporarily, the team has released veteran safety Jordan Poyer, but the former Buffalo starter shouldn’t be gone for long. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston, Poyer is expected to rejoin the Bills practice squad once Davis is placed on the taxi squad injured list.
The Lions landed on a third-string quarterback after holding an audition earlier today. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reports that the team has signed C.J. Beathard to the practice squad. Beathard worked out for the team earlier today alongside Nathan Peterman. Beathard has only started one game since garnering 12 starts for the 49ers between 2017 and 2020. He split last season with the Jaguars and Dolphins without getting into a game. In Detroit, he’ll serve as a third-stringer behind Jared Goff and Kyle Allen.
NFL Minor Transactions: 9/3/25
Today’s list of minor moves consists of players removed from injured reserve via injury settlements:
Chicago Bears
- Released from IR: S Tysheem Johnson
Cincinnati Bengals
- Released from IR: OT Caleb Etienne
Miami Dolphins
- Released from IR: Bayron Matos
New York Giants
- Released from IR: Jermaine Terry
San Francisco 49ers
- Released from IR: QB Tanner Mordecai
Seattle Seahawks
- Released from IR: John Rhys Plumlee
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/2/25
Here are today’s minor moves as we inch a day closer to the start of the regular season:
Carolina Panthers
- Waived (with injury settlement): G Ja’Tyre Carter
Chicago Bears
- Waived (with injury settlement): G Bill Murray, RB Ian Wheeler
Cleveland Browns
- Waived (with injury settlement): RB Pierre Strong
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: QB Jake Haener
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed to active roster: WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling
- Released: WR Russell Gage
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Waived (with injury settlement): CB JayVian Farr, CB Roman Parodie
The 49ers are doing a bit of shuffling in their receiving corps, calling up Valdes-Scantling from the practice squad and cutting Gage. According to multiple sources, it’s believed that Gage will be immediately signed back to the team’s practice squad to remain with the team.
Haener was brought back to the active roster in New Orleans after being waived at the roster cut deadline. The Saints had three quarterbacks, with Iowa Western rookie practice squad passer Hunter Dekkers, but adding Haener gives the team a bit more experienced depth, if only barely, in what may be the league’s youngest quarterbacks room.
Kendrick Bourne To Visit Commanders, 49ers
September 2: The 49ers did make a formal offer to Bourne, per NBC Sports’ Matt Maiocco, but he opted to explore his options with the Commanders. Bourne is visiting Washington on Tuesday, where he may be seeking a stronger deal than what San Francisco had in mind.
August 28: Kendrick Bourne was one of PFR’s release candidates in June, and the Patriots made that move during final roster cuts after hosting the veteran wide receiver for the last four years.
A reunion with the 49ers quickly became a possibility with general manager John Lynch, who signed Bourne as an undrafted free agent in 2017, confirming the team’s interest. The 30-year-old is now set to visit San Francisco, as well as Washington to meet with the Commanders, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Bourne made the roster as an undrafted rookie before carving out a rotational role in 2018. He only averaged just 25.3 receiving yards per game across his first three seasons in San Francisco before a 49-catch, 667-yard season boosted his stock in a contract year. San Francisco opted to bet on their ascending offensive talents and let Bourne walk. He eventually signed with New England, though injuries contributed to declining production and his eventual release.
A return to San Francisco could position Bourne for early-season snaps with Brandon Aiyuk on the PUP list, Jacob Cowing on IR, and Jauan Jennings uncertain for Week 1. The 49ers believe in 2024 first-rounder Ricky Pearsall to take a second-year leap, but veteran Demarcus Robinson is the team’s only other reliable depth. Though Kyle Shanahan‘s system has evolved since Bourne’s first stint in his offense, there should still be some familiarity that would allow a quick re-acclimation.
The Commanders, meanwhile, seem like a less obvious fit. They got Terry McLaurin back on the practice field after his extension, and Noah Brown has joined him after dealing with an undisclosed injury. They also have Deebo Samuel and young depth in Luke McCaffrey and Jaylin Lane, though Bourne would be an offensive upgrade over special teams ace Chris Moore.
Bourne has agreed to a potential contract framework with both teams, per Rapoport, suggesting that a deal could come together relatively quickly.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/1/25
NFL teams are continuing to make minor roster moves as the regular season approaches. On Monday, four clubs released players from their injured reserve lists with an injury settlement. Players who land on the IR without a return designation have to remain there for the entire season, but those with a chance to recover often seek injury settlements so they can return to the field that season. The settlements pay a portion of the player’s salary, typically based on the amount of time the player is expected to miss, while freeing up cap space for the team during the season.
Houston Texans
- Removed from IR with injury settlement: WR Juwann Winfree
Los Angeles Chargers
- Removed from IR with injury settlement: S Jaylen Jones
San Francisco 49ers
- Removed from IR with injury settlement: CB Tre Brown, OT Isaiah Prince
Seattle Seahawks
- Removed from IR with injury settlement: LB Wesley Steiner