Christian McCaffrey will be placed on injured reserve as the San Francisco 49ers confirmed that he suffered a season-ending PCL injury Sunday night against the Buffalo Bills.
Jordan Mason, who was an excellent replacement for McCaffrey when he suffered Achilles tendonitis in both ankles at the beginning of the season, will miss at least the next four games with a high ankle sprain he also suffered in a blowout loss to the Bills. It will be.
The 49ers will have no choice but to rely on rookie Isaac Guerendo as their primary running back for the remainder of the season, with five games remaining.
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San Francisco 49ers running back Jordan Mason during the first half of a game against the Buffalo Bills on Dec. 1, 2024. (Imagination)
As for McCaffrey, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said his star could “potentially” miss the rest of the season.
“I think the PCL is usually two weeks, but I don't know exactly yet,” Shanahan said before learning he was six weeks away from recovery and didn't have many games left.
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The 49ers, who have lost three straight and are now 5-7, are hoping to close out the year at last and hope to return to the playoffs.
However, they currently sit in last place in the NFC West despite being just 7-5 against the division-leading Seattle Seahawks.
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey runs with the ball during the first half of a game against the Buffalo Bills on December 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
Considering the running game is essential for Shanahan's offense to work, Shanahan will ask his rookie running back to carry the workload he expected from McCaffrey, who is coming off an Achilles injury. That's going to happen.
McCaffrey rushed for 53 yards on seven attempts and had two catches for 14 yards before leaving the game on his own. During one of his runs, he felt something was wrong and slipped.
McCaffrey appeared in just four games this season, rushing for 202 yards with no touchdowns on the ground or through the air.
As for Mason, he broke out early this season, rushing for over 100 yards in three of the first four games as his lead back with McCaffrey hurt. He slowed down a bit, but still set career highs with 789 yards and three touchdowns.
San Francisco 49ers running back Jordan Mason runs with the ball in the third quarter of a game against the Buffalo Bills. (Mark Konezny-Imagn Images)
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Gerendo, a fourth-round pick out of Louisville, has 42 rushing attempts for 246 yards and two touchdowns in 12 games.
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