In only his third NFL season, running back Christian McCaffrey became the third player in NFL history to run for 1,000 yards and gain 1,000 yards receiving. He may now become the second to do it twice.
Through 12 games, McCaffrey has 796 rushing yards and 785 receiving yards. With five games to play, that projects to 1,127 rushing yards and 1,112 receiving yards.
Former Rams running back Marshall Faulk did it in 1999, and former 49ers running back Roger Craig did it in 1985. McCaffrey’s 1,000/1,000 season games with the Panthers, in 2019.
And, yes, this would be the first time it happens in a 17-game regular season. That’s true of every single-season record. If the league expands the season (and it will again), it becomes easier to break existing mark based on what happens during a given season.
Regardless, McCaffrey is currently on pace to get there in 16 games. So relax, guy. Appreciate the greatness of McCaffrey, who’s still getting it done at a high level at 29.
San Francisco receiver Jauan Jennings and Carolina safety Tre’Von Moehig could both be disciplined for their actions at the end of Monday night’s game, but 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan says Jennings handled himself appropriately.
In the fourth quarter, Moehig punched Jennings in the groin. Jennings waited until after the game to respond, with a slap to the facemask. Shanahan backed his player afterward.
“The guy took a cheap shot and hit him in the balls. I was real proud of Jauan for not losing his mind out there and getting to the sideline,” Shanahan said.
Both players will at least be fined, and could be suspended, for their actions. Shanahan will not be happy if Jennings is suspended, given what he was reacting to.
Things got a little spicy and the end of a largely blah game, and it raises the prospect of discipline for those involved.
After the clock ran out on the 49ers’ 20-9 win over the Panthers, San Francisco receiver Jauan Jennings went after Panthers safety Tre’von Moehig, giving him an open right hand to the facemask and anther shove before they were separated.
ESPN then showed what caused it. Moments earlier, Moehrig had punched Jennings in the crotch at the end of a play.
Both will surely be fined. The question is whether, under the precedent set by the Week 5 one-game suspension of Lions safety Brian Branch for hitting Chiefs receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster after the game had ended, Jennings will be suspended.
The league has been very aggressive this year regarding sportsmanship issues. So it makes sense to monitor this one throughout the day on Tuesday.
On Sunday, the 49ers face the Browns in Cleveland. The Panthers host the Rams.
It wasn’t the prettiest of efforts for the 49ers on Monday night, but it was a winning one.
Brock Purdy threw a touchdown in the first quarter, Christian McCaffrey ran for a touchdown in the third quarter and the 49ers defense made life difficult for Panthers quarterback Bryce Young in all four quarters of a 20-9 49ers win. The victory moves the 49ers to 8-4 ahead of their Week 13 trip to Cleveland to face the Browns.
Purdy’s touchdown went to wide receiver Jauan Jennings, but his first half was marred by three interceptions. It’s the third time Purdy has thrown three interceptions in a game and the second time that he’s thrown three in one half of a Monday night game. The other one came against the Ravens on Christmas in 2023.
Purdy finished the night 23-of-32 for 192 yards. McCaffrey ran 24 times for 89 yards and caught seven passes for 53 yards as the primary offensive force for the 49ers. Tight end George Kittle had six catches for 78 yards and Jennings had five catches for 41 yards.
Jennings was also involved in a brief postgame altercation with Panthers safety Tre’von Moehrig. ESPN showed Moehrig deliver a blow below Jennings’ belt after a play during the game and there could be league discipline for both players later this week.
Young followed up one of Purdy’s interceptions by getting picked off by 49ers safety Ji’Ayir Brown in the end zone and the Panthers could only turn the other two into three points. Brown picked Young off again in the fourth quarter — officials appeared to miss a hold by 49ers cornerback Renardo Green on the play — and the 49ers were able to run out the clock after Panthers kicker Ryan Fitzgerald missed a 57-yard field goal with 2:41 left to play.
The Panthers fell to 6-6 with the loss and they will be home to face the Rams next Sunday. They may not have cornerback Jaycee Horn for that game. Horn, who had two of the team’s interceptions, suffered a concussion late in the first half and the Panthers also had guard Chandler Zavala and cornerback Corey Thornton depart with injuries.
The Panthers offense took its time getting going on Monday night, but their biggest play of the night has brought them back within one score of the 49ers.
Quarterback Bryce Young hit wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan for a 29-yard touchdown with 49 seconds left in the third quarter. It was the longest play of the night for either team.
The 49ers were penalized on the extra point, so the Panthers decided to go for two points from the 1-yard line. Young’s pass to wide receiver Jalen Coker was incomplete, though, and the 49ers remain up 17-9.
Young is now 12-of-19 for 104 yards, a touchdown and an interception.
