Christian McCaffrey's 2024 season looks to be over less than a month after it started.

San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said Monday that McCaffrey will be placed on injured reserve after the star running back suffered an injury to his posterior cruciate ligament in Sunday night's 35-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills.

McCaffrey won't need surgery, but will miss at least six weeks.

The 49ers only have five games remaining and with a 5-7 record, the defending NFC champions are in danger of missing the play-offs, as they sit two games behind the NFC West-leading Seattle Seahawks.

San Francisco will also be without Jordan Mason for the rest of the season after the team's backup running back sustained a high-ankle sprain against the Bills.

 

49ers HC Kyle Shanahan says RB Christian McCaffrey (knee) will go on injured reserve and will be out "at least 6 weeks." pic.twitter.com/CFLxWfrDlZ

— NFL (@NFL) December 2, 2024

This marks the second time this season McCaffrey will be on injured reserve after he missed the first eight games with Achilles tendinitis.

He made his season debut in Week 10, and totalled 202 rushing yards with 146 receiving yards without a touchdown in the four games he played.

This came after McCaffrey was named the 2023 AP Offensive Player of the Year with an NFL-best 2,023 yards from scrimmage. He also tied with Raheem Mostert for the league lead at 21 touchdowns.

Mason stepped up in place of McCaffrey this season, rushing for 789 yards with an average of 5.2 yards per carry, but the 49ers will now rely on rookie Isaac Guerendo in the backfield.

In limited work, Guerendo has a solid average of 5.9 yards per rush, totalling 246 rushing yards and two touchdowns.