Achilles tendinitis kept San Francisco 49ers star Christian McCaffrey out for the first eight games of the 2024 season. A knee injury forced him out of Sunday night’s Week 13 game against the Buffalo Bills, and it could sideline the Pro Bowler for the rest of the year. Coach Kyle Shanahan said McCaffrey is out indefinitely with a suspected PCL injury and will undergo an MRI on Monday, according to ESPN.
On a second-quarter pitch from quarterback Brock Purdy, McCaffrey barely moved with the ball before limping against the Bills, sliding into the snow at Highmark Stadium to avoid contact and signaling for immediate medical help. He had been explosive earlier, rushing for 53 yards on just seven carries, but walked gingerly to the medical tent after the slide.
McCaffrey then walked to the locker room under his own power for further evaluation, leaving third-year backup Jordan Mason to take over the backfield.
It seemed McCaffrey injured himself on his previous 18-yard run, where Bills safety Taylor Rapp tripped him up around his right ankle. McCaffrey came down hard on his right knee and was forced to leave the field for two plays.
After being named Offensive Player of the Year in 2023 and surpassing 2,000 scrimmage yards for the NFC champion 49ers, McCaffrey was only playing in his fourth game of the 2024 season on Sunday night. He also missed significant time due to injury in 2020-2021 while with the Carolina Panthers.