No fear of the workload

Christian McCaffrey remains calm as he approaches his age-30 season. The San Francisco 49ers running back dismissed concerns about his workload and sees management of his body as a matter of preparation and weekly training structure.

McCaffrey has long been one of the NFL’s most versatile offensive players. That same versatility also raises the question of how long a player with so many touches can stay at an elite level.

49ers need their engine

For San Francisco, McCaffrey remains central. He affects the run game, the passing game and the structure of the entire offense. If he is healthy and explosive, defenses must account for him before the snap.

The 49ers still need to manage his usage intelligently. The balance between efficiency and protection will remain a topic, but McCaffrey clearly does not want the age discussion to define him.