Christian

McCaffrey

McCaffrey will not have surgery and is expected to miss six weeks, which will likely end his season unless the 49ers rally to make the playoffs from a 1.5-game deficit. What can we say about Christian McCaffrey’s 2024 season? Well, it didn’t start. Then he didn’t really play all that well after he returned from his Achilles tendonitis. Then it was over. The final line of 50/202/0 with 15/146/0 receiving over four games correctly showcases the lack of burst he showed. McCaffrey should return as San Francisco’s No. 1 back next year, and perhaps this time he’ll even be available to play in Week 1.

The hits just keep coming for the 49ers, who not only fell to 5-7 and two games behind the division-leading Seahawks but they now potentially lost their All-Pro running back (again). McCaffrey gave himself up behind the offensive line on a carry five minutes into the second quarter. He was able to walk under his own power to the medical tent and then the locker room, but initial testing revealed a potentially season-ending PCL injury. While the severity is not yet known, it is horrible news for the alpha running back that managed just three fully healthy games this season. Further testing Monday will reveal more.

McCaffrey departed early in the second quarter after giving himself up on a carry off tackle. He spent only a few minutes in the blue tent before walking under his own power to the locker room with members of the training staff. He managed 53 yards on seven carries and 14 yards on two receptions prior to departing. Fantasy managers will likely be forced to wait until Monday or Tuesday to hear any updates on the All-Pro running back, but initial circumstances do not appear positive.

McCaffrey looked spry through the first 20 minutes of play before giving himself up after taking a handoff five minutes into the second quarter. Players have been struggling to gain their footing in the drilling snow in Buffalo, something that could have aggravated McCaffrey’s Achilles tendinitis. We’ll await further word from the team.

McCaffrey’s fumble was about as clean as it gets. One defender wrapped him up and the other punched the ball out before he hit the ground. The veteran RB has averaged just 3.5 yards per carry since his Week 10 return. He is a low-end RB1 against the Bills next week if Brandon Allen remains the starter.

Kyle Shanahan told reporters Purdy was dealing with soreness in his throwing shoulder earlier this week. He underwent an MRI and GM John Lynch gave reporters a mixed message. He said the team “feels good about where it is” after the MRI but the situation remained “tenuous.” The fact that Purdy was unable to practice in any capacity on Friday and didn’t even get a token questionable tag feels more than ominous for his rest-of-season outlook. For now, Brandon Allen will draw the start in his place. Purdy’s absence is disastrous for all of the pass-catchers this week, though it’s hard to suggest benching any of the big names.

The high-scoring fantasy outings should eventually come; McCaffrey’s 42 touches over the last two weeks are more than double that of the next closest 49er. Perhaps the most telling sequence of McCaffrey’s current state occurred as he ran onto the field for the 49ers’ second drive, where he could be seen aggressively driving his feet into the ground, transferring his weight side-to-side as he did so. The talented veteran running back is still trying to find his footing as he returns from bilateral Achilles tendonitis but his two setback-free showings should be taken as a net positive. He is an RB1 against the Packers in Week 12.

McCaffrey got a light workload in practice this week and will continue to do so as the 49ers look to keep everyone fresh for the playoff push. He’s good to go for Week 11. Coming off a 19-touch outing in his 2024 debut, McCaffrey is fighting for the top overall running back spot for the final two months of the season.

McCaffrey saw 19 touches and nearly all of the running back snaps in his first game of the 2024 season. He couldn’t get much going on the ground, rushing for just 39 yards, but turned six catches into 68 yards through the air. We should expect McCaffrey’s practice reps to be limited for much of the remaining season. He isn’t at risk of missing any games at this time and is back at the top of the RB1 ranks for Week 11 versus the Seahawks.

There was no snap count in McCaffrey’s 2024 debut, as he ceded only bare minimum “breather back” work to Jordan Mason and Isaac Guerendo. You can question the wisdom of that after the 49ers spent months trying to get McCaffrey healthy, but it’s the only way his coaches have ever known how to use him. The box score wasn’t amazing, but McCaffrey did not appear sluggish or physically limited in any way. This was the “real CMC,” which was most apparent on a fingertips, field-flipping sideline grab for 30 yards in the fourth quarter. Provided he bounces back fine physically, we would expect more heavy workloads and actual touchdowns moving forward. The Seahawks are a primo Week 11 matchup.