Christian McCaffrey's season began eight games late in Tampa, Florida, and ended at least five games early in Orchard Park, New York.
After suffering a knee injury that landed him on injured reserve during a snowy loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday night, the San Francisco 49ers running back admitted the 2024 forecast wasn't in his favor but pledged to move forward in a Wednesday.
"Football is the greatest game on the planet to me," McCaffrey wrote on Instagram, a day after he was officially placed on injured reserve. "I love that you can find out exactly who you are without ever saying a word. It lifts you up and breaks you down and it can happen fast. It's humbling in the best ways. You can do everything right and still fail. Thats [sic] life and that's football. It's a constant test of wills and those who just keep going tend to reap the benefits of their perseverance. This wasn't my year, and sometimes when it rains, it pours."
It was snow that was falling Sunday night when McCaffrey suffered a PCL injury that led to him being placed on injured reserve, where he's more than likely to be out for the remainder of the 2024 season -- barring an improbable 49ers rally and playoff run.
The 35-10 loss was CMC's fourth and final game of a doomed 2024 season.
Originally thought to be just precautionary, McCaffrey was shut down for the preseason and training camp as he dealt with an Achilles and calf injury. It proved to be far more serious than originally thought. McCaffrey was placed on injured reserve, even sought expert help in Germany and was absent for the 49ers' first eight games.
He made his 2024 debut against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 10 following the 49ers' bye week. A few weeks later and McCaffrey's four-game cameo of a campaign is concluded, if not officially.
McCaffrey was plagued by injuries from 2020-21 with the Carolina Panthers, playing just 10 games combined in that span. However, after he was traded to the Niners during the 2022 season, he proved not just to be a phenomenal fit, but a healthy asset. That changed this year.
In four games, he rushed 50 times for a career-low 202 yards with no touchdowns. Despite playing in only three games in 2020, he still ran for more yards and five touchdowns. Then again, he began his season on the playing field.
This year, McCaffrey never got into gear and it's arduous to blame him after such a long layoff.
His injury was one of the first for the 49ers in a season that's seen them ravaged by them, with stars such as Brock Purdy, Brandon Aiyuk, George Kittle, Trent Williams and Nick Bosa all having missed time.
It would seem to have been a snake-bitten season for San Francisco, and one CMC is now moving on from.
The 28-year-old McCaffrey is now looking ahead to his age-29 season, thanking his supporters and pledging to forge forward.
"You can feel sorry for yourself and listen to the birds, or you can hold the line," he wrote. "I'm grateful for the support of everyone in my corner and promise I'll work smarter and harder than ever to come back better from this. I love my teammates, I love the 9ers, and I love football. God doesn't miss. Onward."
