On Sunday, the San Francisco 49ers suffered a brutal 27-24 loss to a Los Angeles Rams team that was 0-2 coming into the game and the 49ers were up 14 points at halftime.
The final three minutes of 49ers vs. Rams was absolutely wild 🎢 pic.twitter.com/YwlSPlJmWV
— NFL (@NFL) September 22, 2024
Incredible game on Sunday, well, for the Rams.
The San Francisco 49ers now start this season 1-2 as they sit at the bottom of an NFC West they’ve consistently dominated year-after-year.
This team was one Brock Purdy injury away from making back-to-back Super Bowls.
Christian McCaffrey, the best running back on planet Earth, has missed the entire 2024 season with an Achilles injury. McCaffrey was placed on injured reserve so the earliest he could return would be their Week 6, Thursday night game against the Seattle Seahawks.
The 49ers Achilles heel is literally someone’s Achilles.
But San Francisco need not worry.
Shanahan said Christian McCaffrey is seeing a specialist in Germany about his lingering Achilles tendonitis issue. There was a photo circulating of McCaffrey waiting for a flight to Munich on Saturday.
— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) September 23, 2024
Christian McCaffrey is flying to Germany to see an Achilles specialist. Problem solved.
McCaffrey is the 11 herbs and spices that make the 49ers offense work.
His ability to motion pre-snap from the backfield to out as a receiver (and vice versa) creates mismatches that allow guys like Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk to capitalize off McCaffrey’s gravity.
Without CMC, the 49ers are average.
3rd-year backup, Jordan Mason can get busy. He’s 2nd in the NFL in rushing yards and leads all backs in carries.
Mason is a workhorse but he isn’t McCaffrey. No one is.
But CMC will be back before we know it as he travels to a foreign land to receive Nazi magic for his Achilles injury. Even Aaron Rodgers—who lied all last season about how soon he’d be back from his Achilles tear—didn’t consider the German option.
Very good and very normal sign and not at all an indication of an injury so bad it’ll end McCaffrey’s career.
What happens if Christian McCaffrey doesn’t come back?
Jauan Jennings has emerged as one of the most consistent options in the league. In Sunday’s loss to the Rams, Jennings caught 11 passes for 175 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Can’t tell if that’s Jauan Jennings or 49ers legend Randy Moss.
📺: #SFvsLAR on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/4yn3FZbMTA— NFL (@NFL) September 22, 2024
Brock Purdy to a wide open Jauan Jennings!
📺: #SFvsLAR on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/VY8HcwLVfY— NFL (@NFL) September 22, 2024
Meanwhile, Brandon Aiyuk, who missed all of training camp and the preseason holding out for a new contract looks like a guy who missed all of training camp and the preseason.
All-Pro receiver, Deebo Samuel is limping around the facility right now with a calf injury. All-Pro tight end, George Kittle, is limping past Deebo as he nurses his own hamstring injury.
It’s Brock Purdy and Jauan Jennings vs. everyone.
The 49ers may never win another game.
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