49ers running back Christian McCaffrey placed on injured list, will miss at least 4 games

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey has been placed on the injured list, the team announced Saturday. McCaffrey will now miss at least the next four games while he recovers from Achilles tendinitis and a calf strain.

McCaffrey was left off the roster at short notice for the season opener last Monday after the 49ers announced just hours before kickoff that he would not play. The 49ers comfortably beat the New York Jets despite the three-time Pro Bowl running back.

On Friday, McCaffrey was ruled out for San Francisco's second game against the Minnesota Vikings due to his injuries. In a press conference the same day, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters they were considering placing him on the injured list, adding that McCaffrey had been in a lot of pain during practice on Thursday.

“It is on and off, but with [Thursday] “I'm in a lot of pain, that's something we'll talk about in the next 24 hours,” Shanahan said.

The loss of McCaffrey is a huge blow for the 49ers. McCaffrey has been a crucial part of San Francisco's offense since joining the team in 2022. The 28-year-old running back is the reigning AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year and led the league with 2,023 yards from the line of scrimmage, including 1,459 rushing yards, and 21 total touchdowns.

Since McCaffrey was placed on the injured list, the earliest he could return is Week 6 against the Seahawks. The 49ers will give him time to recover before re-evaluating him in mid-October.

Jordan Mason will be San Francisco’s starting running back.