In the latest Christian McCaffrey injury update, his father has shared some news on the status of his PCL injury. McCaffery suffered a non-contact injury to his knee when he seemingly slipped awkwardly on the snow-covered field in a play against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, December 1. With only five games left in the regular 2024 NFL season, worries mount that the star running back for the San Francisco 49ers will not recover in time to help secure the team a spot in the playoffs. Here’s what we know so far about McCaffrey’s PCL strain and how long it usually takes for an injury like this to heal.
What is the status of Christian McCaffery’s PCL injury?
Christian McCaffery is scheduled to take an MRI on Monday and hopes that his “PCL strain” is not “too serious,” according to his father Ed McCaffrey who spoke with the Up & Adams Show.
The preliminary description of a “PCL strain” instead of an outright “PCL tear” is good news, and it should be noted that the running back was able to walk off the field under his own power. However, doctors have yet to determine the extent of the injury.
How long does the usual PCL strain take to heal?
The typical PCL injury can take anywhere from 10 days for minor damage to 9 months for severe damage, according to Cleveland Clinic. PCL injuries are ranked from Grade I to Grade IV depending on how torn the ligament is and how unstable the knee is.
Even if the PCL strain is minor, though, the 49ers will consider his prior injuries this season. McCaffrey had only returned to the field several weeks ago after he suffered an Achilles injury, specifically Achilles tendinitis, that saw him miss the first eight games of the season.
Given the minimal recovery time of 10 days for a PCL injury, it would mean that he would be out for at least one game (and most likely, at least two). 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan stated after the Bills’ game that he thinks a PCL injury usually takes “a couple weeks” to recover, but wasn’t exactly sure about McCaffery’s case.