San Francisco 49ers fans have received confirmation of their fears regarding Christian McCaffrey’s injury. An MRI has revealed that the star running back indeed sustained a Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) injury in his knee during Sunday night’s game against the Buffalo Bills. The 49ers have announced plans to place McCaffrey on injured reserve, with an estimated recovery period of six weeks.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan addressed the media on Monday, confirming the diagnosis and the team’s course of action. “It’s about a six-week recovery, so he’s gonna be going on IR,” Shanahan stated during the press conference, delivering the unfortunate news to the 49ers faithful.
The injury occurred during an 18-yard run by McCaffrey in the second quarter of the game, which the 49ers lost 35-10 to the Bills. The play in question saw McCaffrey tackled low by Bills safety Taylor Rapp. While he finished the play, just three plays later, after receiving a toss from quarterback Brock Purdy, McCaffrey went down without contact, visibly uncomfortable. He was then seen hobbling off the field and into the medical tent for evaluation.
Christian McCaffrey injury during Bills game
Following the initial examination in the blue medical tent and a subsequent trip to the locker room, the 49ers initially listed McCaffrey as questionable to return. However, at the start of the second half, he was officially ruled out for the remainder of the game, signaling the severity of the injury.
This PCL injury adds to what has already been a frustratingly injury-marred season for McCaffrey. The star running back began the 2024 season on injured reserve due to calf and Achilles issues, causing him to miss the first eight games of the season. Despite these setbacks, McCaffrey has managed to accumulate 202 rushing yards and 146 receiving yards in the four games he has played, showcasing his undeniable talent when healthy.
The 49ers, the reigning NFC champions, have been significantly hampered by injuries throughout the 2024 season. McCaffrey joins a lengthy list of players currently on injured reserve, including key players like wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (knee) and defensive lineman Javon Hargrave (triceps). Adding to their woes, the 49ers were also without the services of offensive tackle Trent Williams (ankle) and defensive end Nick Bosa (hip, oblique) for the past two games prior to McCaffrey’s injury.
Further compounding the running back situation, backup running back Jordan Mason is also set to be placed on injured reserve due to an ankle injury sustained in the same game against the Bills. This leaves the 49ers incredibly thin at running back, with their top three options – McCaffrey, Mason, and Elijah Mitchell (hamstring) – all sidelined with injuries.
Isaac Guerendo is now the next man up on the depth chart for San Francisco at the running back position. The 49ers will need to rely on their remaining players to step up as they navigate this challenging period without their star running back, Christian McCaffrey, while he recovers from his PCL injury diagnosis.
