While running back Christian McCaffrey signed a two-year, $38 million contract extension this offseason, he hasn’t played a game for the San Francisco 49ers in the 2024 NFL season. While the defending NFC Champions await his return, his season debut might take a while after the unfortunate development of his injury.
As NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco revealed, McCaffrey has bilateral Achilles tendinitis on both legs. That condition led him to seek medical treatment in Germany. However, the overseas procedure is merely a stem cell injection that reduces inflammation.
While McCaffrey returned to the 49ers practices toward the latter part of training camp, his injury has sidelined him since the season opener, allowing Jordan Mason to take over at running back. Eventually, the Niners placed McCaffrey on injured reserve before their Week 2 game against the Minnesota Vikings.
BREAKING:#49ers star running back Christian McCaffrey has Achilles tendinitis in BOTH OF HIS LEGS, NBC reports.
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) September 30, 2024
It is called bilateral Achilles tendonitis… and obviously the team was not willing to tell anyone….
NOT GOOD, no matter how the team tries to spin this. pic.twitter.com/q0GuU4k8Iv
Niners fans hope Christian McCaffrey can return to action and provide numbers like last season. However, the team won’t rush his return, hoping he can be an unstoppable force during the postseason. But given that both legs are affected, can McCaffrey realistically regain the form that made him the 2023 Offensive Player of the Year?
Luckily for San Francisco, Mason has filled in admirably for McCaffrey, tallying 447 rushing yards and three touchdowns in four games. The third-year player from Georgia Tech has also reached 100 rushing yards in three of those four matches. His presence makes the team’s fans forget McCaffrey’s absence.
-Lance Fernandez