SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Because the San Francisco 49ers departed Buffalo within the wee hours Monday morning, they have been bracing for the chance that working again Christian McCaffrey had performed his last recreation for them this season due to a proper knee damage.
What the Niners did not know then was that not solely have been they going to lose McCaffrey for the season’s last 5 video games however that Jordan Mason, McCaffrey’s backup, was additionally doubtless completed for 2024.
On Monday afternoon, all of that turned the Niners’ new actuality as coach Kyle Shanahan introduced that McCaffrey’s posterior cruciate ligament damage would preserve him out for about six weeks and that Mason suffered a excessive ankle sprain within the 35-10 loss to the Buffalo Payments.
McCaffrey was positioned on injured reserve Tuesday. Shanahan stated Monday that Mason is anticipated to land on IR, too.
Shanahan stated McCaffrey will not want surgical procedure however lamented the lack of a participant who was rounding into kind after lacking the primary eight video games with bilateral Achilles tendinitis.
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“I simply really feel for him,” Shanahan stated. “It was an actual irritating yr for him. He labored his ass off to get again up to now and I believe he was actually feeling good and about to take off. He simply had that actual unlucky damage final evening. I do know he is as crushed as anybody, however he’ll get by means of this. He is a hell of a participant, a hell of an individual and an unbelievable 49er. And he’ll be again stronger than ever subsequent yr to assist us.”
Abruptly, the Niners’ beginning working again on Sunday towards the Chicago Bears shall be rookie Isaac Guerendo with follow squad again Patrick Taylor Jr. anticipated to be promoted to the 53-man roster. And on Tuesday, the 49ers claimed working again Israel Abanikanda off waivers from the New York Jets.
McCaffrey was within the midst of his finest recreation of the season Sunday evening towards the Payments, posting 53 yards on seven carries earlier than leaving a couple of performs after banging his proper knee on the Highmark Stadium turf when Payments security Taylor Rapp narrowly prevented him from breaking an extended landing run. McCaffrey briefly left the sport, returned with 11:23 left within the second quarter after which promptly took himself out after he slid down on a toss to the correct for a lack of 5 yards.
After McCaffrey departed, Mason capably stuffed in, very similar to he has all season. Mason had 13 carries for 78 yards towards Buffalo, regardless of the ankle damage and, at one level, being evaluated and cleared for a concussion.
Mason finishes his season whereas main the Niners in dashing with 789 yards and three touchdowns by means of the staff’s first 12 video games. McCaffrey posted 202 dashing yards and no touchdowns in his abbreviated motion. Mason is ready to be a restricted free agent after the season with McCaffrey underneath contract at a cap cost of $9.8 million for 2025.
Guerendo, a fourth-round select of Louisville in April, scored San Francisco’s lone landing towards the Payments and has, at instances, supplied promise within the run recreation together with his residence run velocity. On 42 makes an attempt, Guerendo has 246 dashing yards on the season (5.9 yards per carry) to go along with a pair of touchdowns.
Elsewhere on the damage entrance, Shanahan stated cornerback Deommodore Lenoir (knee) is anticipated to return to follow Wednesday after not enjoying towards Buffalo. Defensive deal with Jordan Elliott and guard Aaron Banks are nonetheless within the concussion protocol whereas defensive finish Nick Bosa (left indirect) and offensive deal with Trent Williams (left ankle) shall be evaluated day after day for the third consecutive week.
Shanahan additionally introduced that security Talanoa Hufanga (wrist) will open his follow window this week as he continues to work his method again from IR.
In the meantime, defensive deal with Kevin Givens shall be positioned on IR after struggling a torn pectoral towards the Payments.
