A conspiracy theory surrounding the electrical substation next to Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara now has its own parody social media account as roughly twenty 49ers players are currently sidelined this season due to injuries.

An ongoing substation conspiracy theory has resurfaced in recent weeks, blaming an electrical substation next to Levi's Stadium for the team’s high injury rate as the 49ers’ injury list continues to grow this season. As the site EasySportz reports, running back Christian McCaffrey missed Monday’s practice because of tightness, and defensive end Nick Bosa sat out his fourth straight full practice with soreness. Both absences were described as precautionary as the team manages them during training camp.

According to Brobible, 19 additional players were sidelined last week, including fullback Kyle Juszczyk, wide receivers Christian Kirk and Mike Evans, defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa, linebacker Dre Greenlaw, and safety Malik Mustapha.

Some players have been out throughout the training camp, including tight end George Kittle, who is dealing with an Achilles injury from January, defensive end Mykel Williams with a knee injury, and running back Isaac Guerendo with a pec injury. (Kittle is said to be on track to treturn for the season opener in Australia.) Wide receiver Ricky Pearsall is also on injured reserve after suffering a knee injury that required surgery and is expected to keep him out for the season.

Men's Journal reports that the sheer number of injuries has brought renewed attention to the conspiracy theory, which began circulating in 2014 when the substation was expanded to help supply the newly built Levi’s Stadium, and the theory went mainstream last season.

A study by a social media user named Peter Cowan found that the 49ers had one of the highest injury rates in the NFL since 2014, leading to speculation that electromagnetic fields from the substation could be contributing to soft-tissue injuries. Cowan has claimed that low-frequency electromagnetic fields can affect collagen and tendons.

The theory has been repeatedly rejected by medical experts and the NFL Players Association, per Brobible. Interim NFLPA Executive Director David White said medical experts have found no evidence supporting the claim, while noting that the union remains in communication with the league and players.

According to Men’s Journal, 49ers General Manager John Lynch also said the organization looked into the issue, telling reporters at the NFL’s annual meetings in March that the substation was essentially “a big nothing burger.”

“We’re in a safe place of work,” Lynch said. “It’s a normal place of work. It’s a normal gym. We are safe, we’re healthy, and we feel really good about that.”

The theory has nevertheless continued to spread. Former 49ers safety Donte Whitner also pushed back on the idea that the team’s injury problems can simply be chalked up to bad luck, per Men’s Journal.

“You have to stop calling it bad luck,” Whitner said on The Grit Code podcast.

As ABC 7 reports, the conspiracy theory now has its own parody X account called “Electrical Substation,” which provides tongue-in-cheek commentary on the 49ers’ injury records.

The account recently responded to a post by a 49ers fan account claiming there was a “HIGH level of confidence” that George Kittle would be ready to play against the Rams in Week 1.

“We’ll see,” the substation account replied.

EasySportz reports that the 49ers are aiming to get their roster healthy by shortening some practices and using lower-impact sessions during camp before preseason games begin. Younger players have also taken on additional reps as veterans sit out.

McCaffrey’s workload is reportedly being managed carefully as he prepares for another major role in the offense, particularly with several other running backs dealing with injuries. Bosa, meanwhile, is continuing his recovery from the torn ACL he suffered last season, with the team taking a cautious approach despite his participation in individual drills.

The 49ers are scheduled to face the Tennessee Titans in their preseason opener Thursday, with a joint practice beforehand. Their regular season begins September 10 against the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia, for a first-of-its-kind NFL season opener Down Under.

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Top image: Christian McCaffrey #23 of the San Francisco 49ers looks on during the  fourth quarter against the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Divisional  Playoff game at Lumen Field on January 17, 2026 in Seattle, Washington.   (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)