The injury news for the 49ers was twice as bad as expected Monday.
Running back Christian McCaffrey will go on injured reserve with a posterior cruciate ligament strain that may not need surgery, but is serious enough to sideline him for the season. To make matters worse, Jordan Mason, the 49ers’ leading rusher, will also “most likely” go on IR and could also miss the remainder of the season.
The 49ers are coming off a 35-10 road loss to the Buffalo Bills and will host the Chicago Bears Sunday at Levi’s Stadium with fading playoff hopes that just took another blow with the loss of two key offensive performers.
Also going on injured reserve will be defensive tackle Kevin Givens, who returned from a groin injury but sustained a torn pectoral against Buffalo.
Shanahan said he hasn’t had a chance to speak with McCaffrey, who played in just three games after missing the offseason and training camp with bilateral Achilles tendinitis and had 53 yards in seven carries before being injured on a 19-yard gain in the first half.
The recovery time for McCaffrey’s injury, Shanahan said, is six weeks. The 49ers have five games left in the regular season and at this point are longshots to make the postseason.
“I’ll connect this afternoon,” Shanahan said. “It was a real frustrating year for him. He worked his ass off to get to that point and had that real unfortunate injury. He’ll get through this, he’s a hell of a player, a hell of a person, an unbelievable 49er and he’ll be back next year.”
Mason gained 78 yards on 13 carries against Buffalo before giving way to rookie Isaac Guerendo. In theory, if Mason were to go on injured reserve, he could still be activated before the regular season finale against Arizona.
With Mason out, the 49ers leading rushers are quarterback Brock Purdy (53 carries, 271 yards) and Guerendo (42 carries for 246 yards).
Guerendo will get plenty of work with the first team, the 49ers will promote Patrick Taylor Jr. from the practice squad and will be in the market for another running back.
SNAP JUDGEMENTS
58: Cornerback Chararius Ward didn’t miss a defensive snap in his return to the lineup. He was one of four players to play every snap, joining cornerback Renardo Green, safety Malik Mustapha and safety Ji’Ayir Brown.
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48: Left guard Ben Bartch played every offensive snap in his 49ers’ starting debut and did some good things in the running game. Others who didn’t miss a snap included the rest of the offensive line, Kittle and Purdy.
45: Middle linebacker Fred Warner missed 13 snaps to get an IV after getting cramps in both forearms.
21: Nick McCloud, promoted from the practice squad to the 53-man roster, got his most extensive time on defense as a slot corner.
13: Jalen Graham stepped in for Warner temporarily because of injuries to Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, who was inactive, and Tatum Bethune, who is on injured reserve.
2: The 49ers eschewed formations with double tight ends, with Eric Saubert getting only a pair of snaps.
More to come on this breaking story . . .
