The fact the 49ers’ Thursday practice participation report didn’t have any significant changes isn’t necessarily good news. Running backs Christian McCaffrey and Elijah Mitchell remained sidelined by injury, but it’s not exactly bad news either.
McCaffrey told reporters there’s zero chance he misses Sunday’s NFC championship game. Head coach Kyle Shanahan has also expressed optimism that both would play.
Neither McCaffrey nor Mitchell needs to practice at this point of the season if it means potentially aggravating even a minor injury. If they remain out of practice for Friday’s session, it would definitely raise some eyebrows and some concern about their availability. For now though, signs point to them playing despite two absences to begin the week.
Here’s Thursday’s practice report: