McCaffrey Misses Practice with Back Stiffness, Confident He'll Play Week 18

San Francisco 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey missed Tuesday's practice due to back stiffness, which Head Coach Kyle Shanahan described as "just stiff." Despite the missed session and a quick turnaround for the critical Week 18 game against the Seahawks, McCaffrey stated the issue is "not serious" and he expects to play. He previously dealt with a similar back problem earlier this season, playing through it in Week 15. In Sunday's win over the Bears, McCaffrey played 61 of 72 snaps, totaling 27 touches for 181 yards and a touchdown while experiencing back discomfort. His availability is crucial for the 49ers' pursuit of the NFC's No. 1 seed.