San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey suffered another injury in just his fourth game of the season.
During the Niners’ matchup against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, McCaffrey went down with a non-contact injury and quickly entered the medical tent. He then went to the locker room and is now listed as questionable with a knee injury.
Christian McCaffrey (knee) went down with a non-contact injury and is headed to the locker room.
He is questionable to return. pic.twitter.com/rY5Mo7bcNr
McCaffrey, last year’s Associated Press Offensive Player of the Year, missed the first eight games of the 2024 season due to Achilles tendinitis.
He’s a versatile superstar at his peak, one of the game’s top offensive weapons and a workhorse as well.
That was best evidenced in 2023, when the ex-Stanford star amassed 2,023 total yards and 21 touchdowns and helped the 49ers win the NFC title. Simply put, San Francisco is at its best with him in the backfield.
However, the 49ers received very good production at the position otherwise.
In the eight games without McCaffrey, Jordan Mason excelled with 771 total yards and three touchdowns. He notably rushed for 685 yards on 134 carries (5.1 YPC).
His backup was rookie Isaac Guerendo, who has rushed for 227 yards on 37 carries for 6.1 YPC. Wide receiver Deebo Samuel had also seen some carries as well (23 for 66 yards).
The 49ers obviously would like McCaffrey healthy and leading the offense. The 49ers do have reinforcements, though, in case they are forced to go without him.