What caused 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey to miss out on the season just four weeks after returning from Achilles tendinitis?

The San Francisco 49ers have been one of the most disappointing teams of the season. After the offense got them a lead in overtime of last year’s Super Bowl, the team is going to outright miss the playoffs this time around. While their overall play has been lackluster at times, injuries have taken a major toll on the team.

It began all the way in the offseason when star RB and MVP candidate Christian McCaffrey went down. Then, after his return, he was once again ruled out. Let’s examine the unfortunate season that McCaffrey has had so far.
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Why Is Christian McCaffrey Out for the Year?

The 49ers got their first blow of the year before the season even began. During training camp, a seemingly innocuous calf strain popped up for McCaffrey. He’d miss the entirety of the preseason. Initially seen as a minor worry, the team was trying to be cautious with their star running back. Eventually, a Week 1 scratch raised alarm bells among the fan base.

A few days later, the severity of the injury became apparent, and he was placed on the IR list. For treatment, McCaffrey traveled to Germany to see an Achilles tendinitis specialist. The situation was severe enough that he had to miss action until Week 10.

A return in Week 10 didn’t bring the same kind of explosivity from the RB. Instead, after diminished numbers and productivity in four straight games, another injury against the Buffalo Bills put him out for good. A shoestring tackle against the Bills left McCaffrey with another knee injury, this time a PCL injury which effectively ended his season.

How Long Will McCaffrey Be Out Due to Injury?

San Francisco placed him on the IR list after their clash against the Bills. That technically gives him ample time to complete the four-week quota and make a return in Week 18. However, given the nature of the injury, a six-week frame is more likely for his timeline.

As a result, the regular season was always going to be near-impossible as a return point for the superstar RB. Nonetheless, with the team missing the playoffs entirely, McCaffrey will return in the 2025 season.

The news is two-fold for the 49ers, however. On one hand, there shouldn’t be any lingering issues for McCaffrey going into next season. However, with a checkered injury history, the 29-year-old playing one of the most physically demanding positions is already showing its signs. In the long run, sustainability might be a question for him.

Who Is the 49ers’ Starting Running Back?

For the first nine weeks of the season, it was Jordan Mason holding it down for San Francisco’s ground game. Over that stretch, he was fourth among all players in rushing yards. The return of McCaffrey pushed him back down the depth chart, slowing down his numbers. Then, the Week 13 matchup against Buffalo proved costly for him as well.

Alongside CMC, Mason was also placed on IR, knocking him out for the next four weeks and effectively ending his season. With both men down, the responsibility of the run game fell on Isaac Guerendo. A fourth-round rookie, Guerendo was supposed to be fourth on the depth chart behind the aforementioned two and Elijah Mitchell.

Unfortunately, a hamstring injury put Mitchell out for the season as well, further depleting an already devastated 49ers rushing attack. Guerendo ran a blazing 4.33-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, which led all running backs and helped his draft stock significantly. He also posted a 41.5-inch vertical jump, which again ranked first in his position.

The 6’0″, 220-pounder racked up 1,392 career rushing yards and 17 touchdowns throughout his collegiate career at Louisville and Wisconsin. Initially, he was a wide receiver, but he made the transition to running back.

In limited time this year, he’s already up to 381 yards on just 73 carries. With Patrick Taylor Jr. and Israel Abanikanda making up the rest of San Francisco’s RB room, expect Guerendo to get the majority of touches.