SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Christian McCaffrey had on his 49ers helmet, No. 23 jersey, white gloves, black sweatpants and white cleats. He looked ready for Friday’s practice and Sunday’s season opener.

Looks can be deceiving. Or encouraging.

“I always plan to play. Hell yeah,” McCaffrey said at his locker, after doing conditioning work but not participating in Friday’s walk-through practice.

Whether Thursday’s calf issue will keep him out of a second straight season opener is yet to be answered. Coach Kyle Shanahan shared only that McCaffrey is questionable to face the host Seattle Seahawks (1:05 p.m., FOX).

“Nothing serious, I can tell you that,” McCaffrey said. “I feel great about where I’m at. Unfortunately, when you have an injury history that I have, you know, sometimes when you don’t practice, things get blown out of proportion, but like I said, I feel great.”

Something did not feel right on Thursday so McCaffrey extricated himself from team drills.

“I’m not supposed to go into anything that happened, but I felt like it was the smart thing to do to not finish the practice because I’ve been there before and I’ve been my own worst enemy in situations like that,” McCaffrey said. “I was proud of myself for not doing that again.”

Shanahan would only confirm that McCaffrey’s calf issue “came up yesterday,” adding: “I’m not going to say anything about Christian guys, or any of our players’ injuries.”

A year ago, McCaffrey insisted his calf felt “much better” and his Achilles was “not a concern for me” entering the season opener against the New York Jets. He was listed as questionable, got scratched before kickoff and missed two months with Achilles tendinitis.

“Yeah, I’ve forgotten about last year, I’ve forgotten about the year before that,” McCaffrey said. “I’m focused on this week and playing Seattle on Sunday.”

McCaffrey then described what it will take to be successful and win a fourth straight visit to Seattle: “It starts with taking care of the ball and just as runners, if there is a lane, you have to hit it. They flow to the ball really well, all 11 guys do.”

Seattle’s artificial surface, as well as New Orleans’ in Week 2 on Sept. 14, should not factor into his availability, McCaffrey added.

Friday, he warmed up on his own and did not join his fellow running backs for their initial drill during the media’s 10-minute access window.

McCaffrey did not appear hindered as he went through his typical activation exercises (start, stop, weave, backpedal, hop, high knees). Head trainer Dustin Little kept an eye on McCaffrey, but neither Shanahan nor general manager John Lynch fixated on McCaffrey and casually chatted nearby.

“I went through a whole training camp and feel good about where I’m at,” McCaffrey said. “… At the end of the day, if you can play, you play in the game. It’s as simple as that.”

Brian Robinson Jr., acquired two weeks ago from Washington, and Isaac Guerendo, a second-year back, are the next men up if McCaffrey is out for his second straight season opener. Rookie Jordan James is doubtful, and Shanahan acknowledged that practice-squad rusher Sincere McCormick could get elevated if needed.

“I’ve been a starter in this league, so I know what it takes to prepare like a starter all the time,” Robinson said. “So, nothing changed. I come here and prepare like I’m going to start every game, regardless of Christian and him being the starter here. I have to prepare like I’m ready to start at any given moment. That’s how you become a starter in this league.”

Although McCaffrey missed four weeks of practice over last year’s training camp and the preseason, he was a constant participant throughout this year’s offseason program and camp, while following the 49ers’ plan to take off a couple of practices.

Lynch raved about McCaffrey on KNBR-680 Thursday morning before that limited practice: “Having him healthy is just a godsend for our team. He looks tremendous.”

McCaffrey ran for over 100 yards in each of his past two trips to Seattle, rushing for three touchdowns combined in those 2022 and ’23 victories.

He didn’t miss any of Carolina’s first 50 games after they drafted him in the 2017 first round out of Stanford. Since then, he’s missed 32-of-82 because of injuries, including ankle, shoulder, quadriceps and hamstring issues in Carolina. A calf issue surfaced and kept him out of the meaningless 2023 regular-season finale for the eventual NFC champs.

Last season, after his eight-game hiatus to treat Achilles tendinitis, he had a four-game comeback halted by a posterior cruciate ligament tear Dec. 1 at Buffalo to end his season (but not require surgery).

Robinson seems ready

Robinson, acquired two weeks ago for a sixth-round pick, started 37 games the past three seasons and is fast-tracking himself through the 49ers’ scheme.

“I mean, he is trying to learn it all. He is working his tail off doing it, studying,” Shanahan said. “But he has been through three practices. So, it’s definitely not there yet. It’ll get better throughout the year. But, he’s had a real good week.”

Said Robinson: “Obviously the playbook is pretty big and I’m doing everything I can to just dive right into it and learn all the information I need going into the game. I feel I’m in a pretty good spot.”

McCaffrey was a distant admirer of Robinson’s last season, seeing how younger brother Luke McCaffrey was a rookie wide receiver in Washington. Said McCaffrey: “I’ve always been a fan. I’m pumped he’s on our team. … What he brings to our team is so much physicality, tough runner, fast, hard-nosed, so he fits our group really well.”

Three seasons ago, McCaffrey came with a chip on his shoulder after being traded from Carolina. Robinson certainly relates to that, saying: “You feel like somebody turned their back on you. You want to do everything to show them it wasn’t the best decision. I know that it’s up to me to play with that chip on my shoulder and continue to show people why you should never count me out.”

Jennings, other updates

As for the 49ers’ other injuries, only James and rookie wide receiver Jordan Watkins (ankle) are listed as doubtful. Wide receiver Jauan Jennings (calf), guard Dominick Puni (knee) and defensive lineman Yetur Gross-Matos (knee) are fully cleared.

Shanahan said he’s “real confident” Jennings can contribute after missing five weeks of practice and returning this week. “He got a number of good workouts over the weekend and stuff, which adds to the conditioning. We had our fourth practice today. So, I think he’s gotten better and better throughout the week and excited to see him out there on Sunday.”

The Seahawks ruled out linebacker Uchenna Nwosu (knee) and wide receivers Jake Bobo (concussion) and Dareke Young (hamstring).

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