It turns out San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey's injury was much ado about nothing. Instead, his prolonged absence was part of a plan.
McCaffrey missed the last couple of weeks and both preseason games with what the team labeled as "tightness." The vagueness and unwillingness to specify where the running back was having an issue led to some consternation that perhaps the problem was bigger than the team was letting on.
It turns out is was not a problem at all.
ESPN's Nick Wagoner on Sunday asked McCaffrey about the All-Pro's absence after McCaffrey returned to practice. McCaffrey said this was all part of the plan going into camp.
"Obviously when you don't practice, the way the media works now it's a firestorm," McCaffrey said via Wagoner. "But this was kind of part of the plan from the jump was to ramp up pretty big, get nine, 10 practices in, kind of come back down and then ramp back up so we're fresh for the duration. Our staff's done a great job of coming up with specific plans. And again, I feel great. I feel fresh, and it's good to be back out there."

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