49ers’ Kyle Shanahan says Christian McCaffrey could return for playoffs, but RB’s IG post suggests otherwise

The San Francisco 49ers are not doing well right now, and that includes the status of Christian McCaffrey.

The All-Pro running back was placed on injured reserve Monday after spraining his posterior cruciate ligament in Sunday’s upset loss to the Buffalo Bills. The loss was a low point for the 5-7 Niners, who have been plagued by injuries in a season that began with clear Super Bowl aspirations.

McCaffrey will initially be out for at least six weeks – the season still runs for five weeks. Niners head coach Kyle Shanahan offered some hope Wednesday when asked if McCaffrey could return during the playoffs, saying, “Yeah, I think so.”

However, the player himself was a little less optimistic on Instagram hours later. McCaffrey hasn’t specifically said he’s out for the season, but the past tense “This wasn’t my year” and his promise to “work smarter and harder than ever to come back better” certainly make it sound that way , as if he had accepted he would no longer play this season.

McCaffrey’s full caption:

If McCaffrey really does, 2024 will be nothing more than a lost season for one of the best running backs in football. The 28-year-old was a late miss before Week 1 with a calf and Achilles tendon injury and didn’t make his debut until Week 10.

In the end, McCaffrey played only four games in which he had fewer and fewer yards from offense. Backup running back Jordan Mason, who will also go on IR with a severe ankle sprain, did an admirable job as a backup, but McCaffrey’s absence was still noticeable for an offense that relied on highly dynamic players at skill positions.

Assuming he’s ready, McCaffrey will be back next year after signing a two-year, $38 million contract extension ahead of the season that takes him through 2027.