What the Niners didn’t know then was that not only were they going to lose McCaffrey for the final five games of the season, but Jordan Mason, McCaffrey’s backup, would likely be done by 2024 as well.
On Monday afternoon, all of that became the Niners’ new reality when coach Kyle Shanahan announced that McCaffrey’s PCL injury would keep him out for about six weeks and that Mason suffered a sprained ankle in the loss. 35-10 against the Buffalo Bills. .
McCaffrey was placed on injured reserve on Tuesday. Shanahan said Monday that Mason is also expected to land on IR.
Shanahan said McCaffrey will not need surgery, but mourned the loss of a player who was regaining form after missing the first eight games with bilateral Achilles tendinitis.
“I just feel for him,” Shanahan said. “It was a really frustrating year for him. He worked hard to get back to this point and I think he was really feeling good and was about to take off. He had that really unfortunate injury last night. I know he’s really gutted.” “Like anyone, but he’ll get through this. He’s a great player, a great person and an incredible 49er and he’ll come back stronger than ever next year to help us.”
Suddenly, the Niners’ starting running back on Sunday against the Chicago Bears will be rookie Isaac Guerendo and practice squad back Patrick Taylor Jr. is expected to be promoted to the 53-man roster. And on Tuesday, the 49ers claimed running back Israel Abanikanda off waivers from the New York Jets.
McCaffrey was in the midst of his best game of the season Sunday night against the Bills, recording 53 yards on seven carries before leaving a few plays after banging his right knee on the Highmark Stadium turf when Bills safety, Taylor Rapp narrowly stopped him from breaking into a long touchdown run. McCaffrey briefly left the game, returned with 11:23 left in the second quarter and then quickly left after sliding to the right for a 5-yard loss.
After McCaffrey left, Mason ably replaced him, as he has done all season. Mason had 13 carries for 78 yards against Buffalo, despite the ankle injury, and at one point was evaluated and cleared for a concussion.
Mason ends his season leading the Niners in rushing with 789 yards and three touchdowns in the team’s first 12 games. McCaffrey recorded 202 rushing yards and no touchdowns in his shortened action. Mason will become a restricted free agent after the season with McCaffrey under contract with a $9.8 million cap hit through 2025.
Guerendo, a fourth-round pick out of Louisville in April, scored San Francisco’s only touchdown against the Bills and has offered promise in the run game at times with his home-run speed. In 42 attempts, Guerendo has 246 rushing yards on the season (5.9 yards per carry) along with a pair of touchdowns.
Elsewhere on the injury front, Shanahan said cornerback Deommodore Lenoir (knee) is expected to return to practice Wednesday after not playing against Buffalo. Defensive tackle Jordan Elliott and guard Aaron Banks are still in the concussion protocol, while defensive end Nick Bosa (left oblique) and offensive tackle Trent Williams (left ankle) will be evaluated day-to-day for the third straight week.
Shanahan also announced that safety Talanoa Hufanga (wrist) will open his practice window this week as he continues to work his way back from the injured list.
Meanwhile, defensive tackle Kevin Givens will be placed on the injured list after suffering a torn pectoral against the Bills.
