The 2024 NFL season has been a monumental disappointment for the San Francisco 49ers, who face the Detroit Lions in week 17 Monday Night Football (December 39). Just 10 months ago, the Niners were facing the Chiefs at Super Bowl LVIII but now Kyle Shanahan’s team are 6-9, occupy last place in the NFC West and are eliminated from postseason contention with two games left to play.
To make matters worse, and to partly explain their struggles, they have been without Christian McCaffrey, the 2023 NFL Offensive Player of the Year, and their top receiver Brandon Aiyuk for much of the campaign.
Christian McCaffrey did in fact suffer 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 Scha after (@Adamscha after) December 2, 2024
Which 49ers games will McCaffrey miss?
A calf strain kept McCaffrey sidelined throughout the whole 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 another three games before being placed on injured reserve.
The 28-year-old suffered a posterior cruciate ligament injury in Week 13 against the Buffalo Bills which will keep him out of action for a total of six weeks. With the 49ers not reaching the playoffs, that means the former Carolina Panthers star won’t play again until the 2025 season.
As well as being ruled out against the Lions, McCaffrey will also miss the week 18 game at the Arizona Cardinals (Sunday, January 5). Unfortunately for McCaffrey and the Niners, he needn’t worry about being back for the playoffs, which start on January 11.
49ers latest injury report against the Lions in week 17
Elsewhere, cornerback Charvarius Ward (personal matter)linebacker Dre Greenlaw (calf), defensive linesman Robert Beal Jr. (ankle) and offensive linesmen Aaron Banks (knee) and Spencer Burford (calf) are all out of the Lions game.
Safety A brown jire (ankle), offensive linesman Colton McKivitz (knee) and linebacker Tatum Bethune (knee) are listed as questionablebut defensive linesman Nick Bosa and running back Isaac Guerendo (foot) are available after recent fitness issues.
The 49ers eliminated from 2024 playoffs
The Niners’ playoff hopes were ended before their week 16 game against the Dolphinswhich they lost anyway.
The Californians are now in a straight fight with the Arizona Cardinals to avoid finishing bottom of the NFC West. Two victories will see San Francisco finish third, while two defeats will ensure they finish dead last.
Should the 49ers lose to the Lions and defeat the Cardinals, the common games tiebreaker will be needed to separate them from Arizona.
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