San Francisco 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey injures knee in second quarter

Christian McCaffrey is dealing with another long-term injury again.

The San Francisco 49ers running back went down with a knee injury during the second quarter of the team's "Sunday Night Football Game" loss to the Buffalo Bills and never returned.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan said postgame that the 49ers believe McCaffrey injured the PCL in his knee, which could potentially end his season.

McCaffrey was injured after he received a toss from quarterback Brock Purdy. McCaffrey retrieved the football and immediately went down to the ground in obvious discomfort. After the play was whistled dead, the 49ers running back hobbled to the sideline and into the team’s blue medical tent with 11:23 on the clock in the second period.

Moments later, McCaffrey went into the locker room. He had nine touches and 67 yards from scrimmage at the time of his injury.

The 49ers announced that McCaffrey was questionable to return midway through the second quarter. The team downgraded McCaffrey to out at the start of the second half.

McCaffrey has had an injury-riddled 2024 season.

The 49ers star running back was placed on injured reserve to begin the season and missed the team’s first eight games due to calf and Achilles injuries.

McCaffrey had 149 rushing yards and 132 receiving yards in three games this season entering Sunday night's contest.

“It was frustrating," Shanahan told reporters postgame. "He had a great week of practice and I could feel his urgency and stuff. Thought he came out great, looking real good. He looked like he just got his shoestring there, he was about to break a house call. I'm guessing he got hurt on that play, I don't know I never got to talk to him, but hurt for him and tough for our team that that happened to him."

The 49ers entered Week 13 with 10 players on injured reserve.

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