Christian McCaffrey didn’t just carry the ball—he carried the entire San Francisco 49ers offense through the first half of the 2025 season. With exactly Christian McCaffrey leading the NFL in carries at 217 by November 25, 2025, the San Francisco 49ers leaned on him like a human bulldozer. Even as his yards per carry dipped to 3.7, he kept the chains moving, the clock running, and defenses guessing. But then, in the middle of a Sunday Night Football clash against the Buffalo Bills at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, it all changed. McCaffrey went down with a posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injury. Head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed it the next day: this might be it for 2025.
217 Carries. 3.7 Yards Per Carry. And Still the League’s Most Used RB
The numbers don’t lie, even if they’re confusing. Christian McCaffrey had more touches than any running back in the NFL this season. 217 carries. That’s 15 more than the next closest back. He was on the field for 78% of the 49ers’ offensive snaps. He caught 58 passes. He scored seven rushing touchdowns—though NFL.com showed 10 total touchdowns, including receiving, creating a discrepancy that speaks to his dual-threat nature. ESPN’s stats listed him at 796 rushing yards, tied for 10th. But his real value? He was the engine. When the 49ers needed a first down in the red zone, they gave him the ball. When they needed to kill clock, they gave him the ball. When they were down by three in the fourth, they gave him the ball.On September 7, 2025, against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, he rushed 24 times for 129 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught seven of eight targets for 72 more yards. That’s 201 total yards from scrimmage in a 20-10 win. That’s not a stat line. That’s a work of art.
Why the Low Yards Per Carry? Because He Wasn’t Supposed to Be Fast—He Was Supposed to Be Relentless
The 3.7 yards per carry? It’s not a failure. It’s a feature. McCaffrey wasn’t a home-run hitter. He was the guy who turned a 2-yard loss into a 3-yard gain. He was the guy who dragged three defenders for an extra yard on 3rd and 8. He was the guy who took a screen pass and turned it into a 17-yard pickup because he read the defense before the snap. His average may have ranked 150th among backs with 50+ carries, but no one else in the league had his volume and his reliability.He averaged 62.6 rushing yards per game—a decline from his 2022 season with the Carolina Panthers, where he once had 2,000 scrimmage yards. But the game had changed. The 49ers’ offense had evolved into a power-based, time-consuming machine. And McCaffrey was its heartbeat.
The Injury That Changed Everything
It happened on December 1, 2025, during the 49ers’ 24-17 loss to the Bills. McCaffrey had seven carries for 53 yards and two catches for 14 yards before leaving at halftime. No contact. No collision. Just a subtle twist as he planted his left foot. He didn’t scream. Didn’t grab his knee. Just walked off slowly, head down. The trainers rushed out. The crowd fell silent. The NFL’s most durable back, who’d played 107 career games with just one major missed season (2020), was done.“It’s a PCL,” Shanahan said the next day. “We’re going to get more scans Monday. But… it’s likely season-ending.”
The San Francisco 49ers had been 8-4-0, third in the NFC West behind the Rams and Seahawks. Their offense was ranked 12th in the league. Without McCaffrey, it’s now a question mark. His 217 carries represented nearly 30% of the team’s total rushing attempts. Who picks up the slack? Jordan Mason and Isaac Guerendo, according to Rotowire.com. Both are serviceable. Neither is McCaffrey.
What’s Next? A Race Against Time
The medical team has scheduled an MRI for December 2, 2025, to confirm the PCL tear’s severity. If it’s a Grade 2 or 3, surgery is likely. Recovery? Six to eight months. That means McCaffrey won’t return until at least April 2026. The 49ers’ playoff hopes—already slim after a loss to the Seahawks—now hinge on their offensive line and quarterback Brock Purdy carrying more of the load.There’s a strange irony here. McCaffrey’s 217 carries were a testament to his durability. But they may have also contributed to the breakdown. No running back in modern NFL history has carried the ball that often and lived to tell the tale. The league’s most used back became its most missed one.
Legacy in the Making
Think about this: McCaffrey has 93 career touchdowns—59 rushing, 34 receiving. That’s 560 fantasy points. He’s one of only three players in NFL history with 100+ career receptions and 50+ rushing touchdowns. He played for the Panthers from 2017 to 2022, then was traded to the 49ers in a deal that shocked the league. In his first season with San Francisco, he had 2,000 scrimmage yards. In 2025, he didn’t hit that number—but he was more essential than ever.When the 49ers beat the Panthers on Monday Night Football in Week 10, it was McCaffrey who scored the go-ahead touchdown. He didn’t celebrate. He just walked to the sideline, helmet in hand, like he’d done it a hundred times before. He had.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does McCaffrey’s injury impact the 49ers’ playoff chances?
Without McCaffrey, the 49ers’ offense loses its most consistent weapon. Their 8-4-0 record is now in jeopardy as Jordan Mason and Isaac Guerendo lack his pass-catching ability and red-zone reliability. The team must rely more on Brock Purdy’s arm, which could expose them against elite defenses like the Rams or Eagles. Their path to a first-round bye now requires winning all remaining games.
Why was McCaffrey carrying the ball so often despite low yards per carry?
Kyle Shanahan’s offense prioritizes time of possession and control. McCaffrey’s ability to convert third downs, catch check-downs, and grind out tough yards made him the perfect tool for a clock-eating attack. His 217 carries were a strategic choice—not a sign of inefficiency. He turned 3-yard gains into 10-yard drives, keeping the defense off the field.
What’s the difference between ESPN’s 7 touchdowns and NFL.com’s 10?
ESPN only counts rushing touchdowns in their RB stat lines, while NFL.com includes both rushing and receiving touchdowns. McCaffrey had seven rushing scores and three receiving touchdowns in 2025, totaling 10. The discrepancy reflects different stat-tracking standards—not an error.
When could McCaffrey return?
If confirmed as a severe PCL tear, McCaffrey’s earliest possible return is Week 14 against the Chicago Bears at Levi’s Stadium on January 5, 2026. But even that’s optimistic. Most PCL injuries require surgery and 6–8 months of rehab. A return in 2026 is likely, but not guaranteed for Week 1.
How does this injury compare to his past health issues?
McCaffrey missed the entire 2020 season due to a high ankle sprain and Lisfranc injury. He played 16 games in 2022 with Carolina, then 15 in 2023 and 14 in 2024 with San Francisco. This PCL injury is his first major knee issue. Unlike past injuries, this one doesn’t involve ligament reconstruction—but it still carries a long recovery timeline due to the joint’s stability role.
Is this the end of McCaffrey’s elite career?
Not necessarily. Players like Adrian Peterson and Derrick Henry returned from similar injuries at elite levels. But at 28, McCaffrey is entering the age where recovery slows. The 49ers’ decision to use him as a workhorse may have accelerated wear-and-tear. His future depends on rehab, not just healing. He’ll need to prove he can still be more than a battering ram.
