49ers placing McCaffrey, Mason on IR
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan announced Monday that running backs Christian McCaffrey and Jordan Mason are being placed on injured reserve, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
McCaffrey is expected to miss at least six weeks with a PCL injury. Shanahan confirmed the ailment won't require surgery. Mason is dealing with a high ankle sprain.
McCaffrey exited Sunday's contest against the Buffalo Bills in the second quarter and did not return. He rushed for 53 yards on seven carries before being sidelined. The All-Pro tailback missed a portion of training camp and the first eight games of the season due to bilateral Achilles tendinitis.
The 2023 NFL Offensive Player of the Year has rushed for 202 yards on 50 carries, caught 15 passes for 146 yards, and has zero touchdowns in four games this season.
Mason stepped in for McCaffrey against the Bills, rushing for a team-high 78 yards on 13 carries. He leads the team with 789 rushing yards to go along with three scores. Rookie Isaac Guerendo is now in line to be the Niners' feature back following a rash of injuries at the position.
San Francisco entered last weekend's prime-time matchup missing several key starters due to injuries. Nick Bosa, Trent Williams, and Deommodore Lenoir were inactive for Sunday's contest, while Brandon Aiyuk and Javon Hargrave were both placed on the reserve list with season-ending ailments earlier in the campaign.
The Niners (5-7) will aim to halt a three-game losing skid Sunday when they host the Chicago Bears.