Injuries continue to mount around the NFL and the push to get healthy for a stretch run with Thanksgiving — and a playoff berth already clinched — in the rearview mirror. But several teams that were considered playoff contenders at the start of the year have had their seasons derailed by trips to the coach’s table.
The 49ers — who were already without Trent Williams, Nick Bosa and Diommodore Lenoir — saw Christian McCaffrey leave their blowout Sunday night at Buffalo after a non-contact injury that didn’t look good. He didn’t return, and now fears his season — already cut short by Achilles tendonitis in both legs — could be over. Also, in Jacksonville, the Jaguars are anxious for more news on franchise quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who suffered an ugly, illegal hit Sunday that kept him off the field and ejected Aziz Al-Shayr.
Christian McCaffrey is suffering from a PCL injury that could end his season
Christian McCaffrey’s 2024 season may be over as quickly as it began. He checked himself out in his team’s Sunday Night Football loss to the Bills — a game in which he had big plays, rushing seven times for 53 yards on the opening kickoff — Shanahan due to a PCL injury, according to head coach Kyle. He added that the injury is “likely” season-ending.
McCaffrey missed the first eight games of the season with tendonitis in both Achilles. All of the 49ers’ key skill players on offense — Debo Samuel, Jauan Jennings, Brandon Ayuk (who is on IR), Brock Purdy, George Kittle and McCaffrey — have missed time on the injured list this season. Pro tackle Trent Williams is out and the defense is missing key stars right now. San Francisco, now 5-7 and 1-3 in the NFC West, needs a minor miracle to sneak into the playoffs after appearing in the last three NFC Championship Games.
Trevor Lawrence is out with an injury
Jacksonville quarterback Trevor Lawrence’s ugly injury is sure to be discussed at length this week, and Texans linebacker Aziz Al-Shayer’s impact will trickle down the league. But the 2-10 Jaguars — who were 9-8 last year and underperformed in 2024 — had to finish without their franchise signal caller.
Lawrence, who is in the first year of a five-year, $275 million extension, did not return to the game after exhibiting a fencing reaction on the field following the injury — though he posted on social media after the game that he was feeling better and resting at home. With the Jags going nowhere fast this season and Doug Pederson’s job possibly in jeopardy, it will be worth watching if the Jaguars are careful with Lawrence as the season ends, with the club heading toward the bottom of the AFC South and the top spot in the NFL draft this spring.
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