by Injuries continue to pile up in the NFL, and with Thanksgiving in the rearview mirror — and playoff spots already clinched — the push is on to get healthy for the stretch run. But a few teams thought to be playoff contenders at the start of the year have had their seasons derailed by trips to the coaching table.
The 49ers — who were already without Trent Williams, Nick Bosa and Deommodore Lenoir — saw Christian McCaffrey leave early in Sunday night’s blowout loss to Buffalo after a non-contact injury that didn’t look good. He didn’t return, and now there are fears his season – which has already been shortened due to Achilles tendinitis in both legs – may be over. Additionally, in Jacksonville, the Jaguars are bracing for more news regarding franchise quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who took an ugly and illegal hit on Sunday that led to him being carted off the field and expulsion of Azeez Al-Shaair.
Christian McCaffrey suffers PCL injury that could end his season
Christian McCaffrey’s 2024 season could end almost as quickly as it began. He came out of his team’s Sunday Night Football loss to the Bills – a game in which he put up big numbers, with seven carries for 53 yards early on – with what ended up being a PCL injury , according to head coach Kyle. Shanahan. He added that the injury was “potentially” season-ending.
McCaffrey missed the first eight games of the season due to tendinitis in both Achilles tendons. All of the 49ers’ key players on offense – Deebo Samuel, Jauan Jennings, Brandon Aiyuk (who is on IR), Brock Purdy, George Kittle and McCaffrey – have all missed time on the injured list this season, in addition to All- Pro tackle Trent Williams is out and missing key stars on defense right now. San Francisco will now need a minor miracle, at 5-7 and 1-3 in the NFC West, to sneak into the playoffs after appearing in the last three NFC championship games.
Trevor Lawrence suffers concussion
The nasty hit to Jacksonville quarterback Trevor Lawrence is sure to be discussed at length this week, and the implications for Texas linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair will come from around the league. But the 2-10 Jaguars — who were 9-8 last year and underperformed expectations 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 displaying the fencing response on the court after the hit – although after the match, he posted on social media 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 cautious with Lawrence as the season comes to a close with the club heading towards the bottom of the AFC South and the top of the AFC. the NFL draft this spring.
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