Injuries continue to mount around the NFL, and with Thanksgiving in the rearview mirror — and playoff berths already clinched — the push is on to get healthy for the stretch run. But a couple of teams that were thought to be among the playoff contenders at the start of the year have had their seasons derailed by trips to the trainer’s table.
The 49ers — who were already without Trent Williams, Nick Bosa and Deommodore Lenoir — saw Christian McCaffrey leave their blowout Sunday night loss to Buffalo early after a non-contact injury that didn’t look good. He didn’t return, and now the fear is his season — which was already shortened because of Achilles tendonitis in both legs — may be over. Also, in Jacksonville, the Jaguars will be without quarterback Trevor Lawrence for the rest of the season after he was concussed following an ugly, illegal hit on Sunday which led to him being carted off the field and Azeez Al-Shaair being ejected.
Christian McCaffrey suffers PCL injury that likely ends his season
Christian McCaffrey’s 2024 season could be over almost as quickly as it started. He checked himself out of his team’s Sunday Night Football loss to the Bills — a game he was putting up big numbers in, with seven rushes for 53 yards in the early going — with what wound up being a PCL injury, according to head coach Kyle Shanahan. On Monday, the 49ers put McCaffrey back on IR, and with five games left in the season, we’ve likely seen the last of the running back this year.
McCaffrey missed the first eight games of the season with tendonitis in both Achilles. All of the 49ers’ key skill players on offense — Deebo Samuel, Jauan Jennings, Brandon Aiyuk (who is on IR), Brock Purdy, George Kittle and McCaffrey — have missed time on the injured list this season, in addition to All-Pro tackle Trent Williams and key stars on defense being out 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.
Azeez Al-Shaair suspended 3 games, appeal upheld
The ugly hit on Jacksonville quarterback Trevor Lawrence is sure to be talked about at length this week, and on Tuesday, the league announced a three-game suspension for Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair. His suspension was upheld upon appeal. On Monday morning, Al-Shaair apologized to Lawrence in a post on social media. But the 2-10 Jaguars — who were 9-8 last year and have underperformed expectations in 2024 — had to finish up without their franchise signal caller.
Lawrence, who is in the first year of a five-year, $275 million extension, didn’t return to the game after displaying the fencing response on the field after the hit — although after the game, he posted on social media that he was feeling better and resting at home. With the Jags going nowhere fast this season and now Lawrence’s season is over after he was placed on injured reserve on Wednesday.
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NFL upholds Al-Shaair’s suspension
Texans LB Azeez Al-Shaair’s suspension stands. The NFL upheld its decision on Wednesday night after his appeal.
Click the photo to read more about Al-Shaair’s suspension after the hit that concussed Trevor Lawrence on Sunday.
Click the photo to read more about Azeez Al-Shaair’s suspension. (Mike Carlson/Getty Images) -
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