Why isn’t Christian McCaffrey playing for the 49ers against the Dolphins in Week 16?

On December 23, 2024By Littum

The running back remains out on injured reserve as San Francisco’s postseason dream fades.

Compared to last season, the 2024 campaign has been a huge disappointment for San Francisco 49ers. Just 10 months ago, the Niners faced the Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII, but now Kyle Shanahan’s team is 6-8 and occupying last place in the NFC West and virtually no chance of making the playoffs.

And to make matters worse, they have been without Christian McCaffrey2023 NFL Offensive Player of the Year, and their top receiver Brandon Aiyuk in large parts of the campaign.

Christian McCaffrey actually suffered his potentially season-ending PCL injury on this play — one play before he went down and then took himself out of the game. pic.twitter.com/iFbjkHiEhR

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) 2 December 2024

Which 49ers games will McCaffrey miss?

A calf strain kept the 28-year-old on the sidelines throughout the preseason, and he missed the first eight games of the season due to bilateral Achilles tendinitis. He returned in Week 10 for the matchup against the Bucs, but lasted three more games before being placed on injured reserve.

McCaffrey suffered a posterior cruciate ligament injury in Week 13 against the Buffalo Bills, which will keep him out for six weeks. That means the former Carolina Panthers star will not play again in the regular season.

He will miss games against Miami Dolphins (December 22), Detroit Lions (30) and Arizona Cardinals (early January, date TBC), Although given the way things stand, there seems to be a real chance we won’t see him again until the 2025 season.

Elsewhere, defensive lineman Nick Bosa (hip/oblique) and linebacker Dre Greenlaw (Achilles) are both questionable heading into the Dolphins game. Trent Williams (ankle) and Isaac Guerendo (foot) are both excluded.

49ers’ chances to advance to the postseason

Should the six-week dismissal prove correct, McCaffrey would be eligible to return to action sometime around Jan. 13, the day on which the wildcard playoff round is to be completed. However, the chances of the 49ers being involved have faded significantly.

Three defeats in a row left the Californians bottom of the NFC West with a 6–8 record, 11th best in the conference. The Rams and Seahawks top the division both at 8-6, and the The Niners could still mathematically sneak into the playoffs without winning the division, although it doesn’t seem very realistic at this stage of the game.