Christian McCaffrey’s 2024 season started late and it appears to be ending early.
McCaffrey is being placed on injured reserve due to a PCL injury he sustained in the San Francisco 49ers' 35-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday night, head coach Kyle Shanahan announced Monday.
Shanahan added that McCaffrey's injury won't require surgery and he will miss at least six weeks. With just five weeks left in the regular season, McCaffrey would not return this campaign unless San Francisco mounted what appears to be an unlikely playoff run.
Additionally, backup running back Jordan Mason is joining McCaffrey on injured reserve with a high ankle sprain, Shanahan added. Isaac Guerendo is expected to be San Francisco's lead back for the remainder of the 2024 season.
Last season’s AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year, McCaffrey did not play in his first game this season until Week 10 after he was placed on injured reserve in September due to calf and Achilles injuries. Now, he has a knee injury to come back from whilst leaving San Francisco concerned about their star tailback’s future.
In four games, McCaffrey recorded 348 scrimmage yards and had zero touchdowns.
McCaffrey is set to return in 2025 at 29 years old with $16.2 million due on his salary.
Amid a trying 49ers season that’s been rife with injuries on both sides of the ball and a 5-7 showing that has put them at long odds for returning to the playoffs, CMC’s second major injury of the year will be just one of many questions for 2025.
McCaffrey joined the 49ers via trade from the Carolina Panthers in 2022. With the Panthers, McCaffrey exploded onto the scene, becoming the NFL’s preeminent dual-threat back. However, he was ravaged by injuries in 2020 and 2021. That changed in San Francisco where he didn’t miss a game due to injury with the 49ers until this year.
McCaffrey and Mason join fellow running back Elijah Mitchell, wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, defensive tackle Javon Hargrave and safety Talanoa Hufanga as notable Niners lost for the season. Brock Purdy, Nick Bosa and Trent Williams have also missed games due to injury.