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CHRISTIAN McCaffrey is once again headed to injured reserve.
After playing just four games this season, Christian McCaffrey is being shut down for good.
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According to San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan, McCaffrey injured his PCL.
That injury is estimated to have a six-week recovery time, and the 49ers’ season will likely be over by then.
“I just feel for him,” Shanahan said.
“It was a real frustrating year for him. He worked his ass off to get back to this point and I think he was really feeling good and about to take off.
“He just had that real unfortunate injury last night. I know he’s as crushed as anyone, but he’ll get through this.
“He’s a hell of a player, a hell of a person, and an unbelievable 49er.
“And he’ll be back stronger than ever next year to help us.”
McCaffrey spent the first half of the season down with bilateral Achilles tendinitis, and will now return to recovery with the PCL injury.
Fortunately it will not require surgery, but it is a brutal blow to the 49ers’ playoff hopes.
McCaffrey wasn’t playing his best football after returning from injury, but he is always a threat to explode.
In four games he had 202 rushing yards and 146 receiving yards.
McCaffrey did not score a touchdown this season.
At this point, the 49ers would have liked to return to capable backup Jordan Mason for the remainder of the season, but they are losing him to injured reserve too.
Mason suffered a high-ankle sprain and is set to miss at least four weeks with the injury.
He did an exceptional job filling in for McCaffrey early in the season, compiling 789 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
NFL important dates
August 1 – Hall of Fame Game – Houston Texans vs Chicago Bears
August 8 – Pre-season begins
August 27 – Deadline for 53-man rosters
September 1 – Final day of pre-season
September 5 – Season opener – Baltimore Ravens vs Kansas City Chiefs
November 5 – Trade deadline
January 5 – Week 18 of regular-season
January 11 – Playoffs begin
February 9 – Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans, Louisiana
With their top two options likely out for the rest of the season, the 49ers will turn to rookie Isaac Guerendo as their lead back.
Guerendo was drafted with the No. 129 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and has seen limited time this season.
He has converted 42 carries into 246 yards and two touchdowns on the season.
Guerendo will look to propel the 49ers back into winning ways, as they are currently on a three-game losing streak.
At 5-7 on the season, San Francisco’s playoff hopes are looking slim and they would likely need to win out to make it in.
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