49ers place superstar RB Christian McCaffrey on injured reserve
The San Francisco 49ers’ uphill path toward the playoffs just got a bit more difficult with star running back Christian McCaffrey being placed on the injured reserve.
McCaffrey is dealing with a posterior cruciate ligament injury, which head coach Kyle Shanahan stated will keep him off the field for at least six weeks. Meanwhile, backup Jordan Mason suffered a high ankle sprain in the 35-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday night.
Mason is expected to land on the injured reserve with the injury, leaving a significant hole in the backfield for the 49ers moving forward. Shanahan said that McCaffrey won’t need surgery, but losing the star running back would be another tough blow to what’s been a troubling 2024 campaign.
“I just feel for him,” Shanahan said via ESPN. “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 had missed the first eight games of the season due to bilateral Achilles tendinitis. In four games, he posted 202 rushing yards along with 19 receptions for 146 receiving yards.
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The 49ers will turn to rookie Isaac Guerendo as the starter while they will promote Patrick Taylor Jr. from the practice squad to the 53-man roster. The front office also claimed running back Israel Abanikanda off waivers from the New York Jets.
