Report: Depleted 49ers could be without Christian McCaffrey through at least Week 12

Report: Depleted 49ers could be without Christian McCaffrey through at least Week 12

San Francisco’s star running back has been out of the lineup for the first few weeks of the 2024 season with an Achilles tendon injury, and will reportedly miss more time as a result of a devastating recent finding.

Christian McCaffrey will remain out for the foreseeable future.

The San Francisco 49ers’ star running back has missed the team’s first three games of the 2024 season with Achilles tendonitis. Days before San Francisco’s Week 2 contest against the Minnesota Vikings, McCaffrey was placed on injured reserve, leaving him out of commission through at least Week 5.

Now, though, McCaffrey’s condition has only worsened.

The All-Pro went to Germany earlier this week to visit a specialist for his condition. While there, the specialist found what appears to be a more severe injury in McCaffrey’s Achilles tendon.

Per Eric Branch of The San Francisco Chronicle, the Niners will not be able to reinsert McCaffrey into the lineup anytime soon. In an interview with Dr. Kenton Fibel, a Los Angeles-based sports medicine specialist, Branch learned that the tendon will need more time to heal than initially expected.

“I think it more suggests this is an injury that they think they are going to need something more to augment his healing that may require weeks or a couple months rather than a week or two,” said Fibel (via The Chronicle). “This may be something where you realize the pathology is a little bit more serious and reserve a way to allow him to return this season, even if it does take a month or two with him needing a longer recovery.”

While McCaffrey has been out, San Francisco has turned to third-year back Jordan Mason, who has totaled 324 rushing yards over 67 attempts across three games. Mason has stepped up as one of the Niners’ key contributors on offense this season, recording a rushing touchdown and at least 100 yards on the ground in each of the team’s first two games.

In addition to McCaffrey, San Francisco has been without wide receiver Deebo Samuel (calf) and tight end George Kittle (hamstring), both of whom missed Week 3 versus the Los Angeles Rams.

The Seattle Seahawks will host the Niners in Week 6 for the first of two matchups between the division rivals in the 2024 campaign. The rematch in Santa Clara will be in Week 11, which indicates Seattle won’t play McCaffrey at all this regular season.