Latest injury rumor on Christian McCaffrey is even more concerning than before

According to one medical director, Christian McCaffrey may take longer to return to the 49ers than originally anticipated, which isn't exactly good.

The remote possibility of San Francisco 49ers All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey missing the entirety of 2024 just got a little less remote.

McCaffrey, who is dealing with Achilles tendinitis that has kept him from participating in either the preseason and regular season, landed on injured reserve heading into Week 2 and will miss at least four weeks while on the list.

No. 2 running back Jordan Mason has filled in admirably for the reigning Offensive Player of the Year.

But, make no mistake: Mason isn't McCaffrey.

McCaffrey recently flew to Germany to see a specialist who might assist in both getting him back on the field as quick as possible while also aiding in the prevention of a more serious injury. That alone created some cause for concern, suggesting the four-week IR stint might not be long enough.

However, some recent insight from another medical professional suggests McCaffrey could be out for a much, much longer period of time.

Christian McCaffrey could be out 'a couple of months'

The San Francisco Chronicle's Eric Branch (h/t Kyle Posey of Niners Nation) recently spoke with Dr. Kenton Fibel, who is a medical director for the NHL's Anaheim Ducks and specializes in orthobiologics.

What Fibel shared with Branch is notably concerning:

"McCaffrey’s visit, Fibel said, suggests he has a more serious injury, perhaps an issue that includes microscopic tears in the tendon, that hasn’t responded well to initial treatment methods and won’t resolve within a few weeks with rest. Given the nature of the Achilles, a weight-bearing tendon, Fibel said McCaffrey would likely be sidelined for at least a month and 'probably closer to a couple of months' if he had an orthobiologic procedure.

'I think it more suggests this is an injury that they think they are going to need something more to augment his healing that may require weeks or a couple months rather than a week or two,' said Fibel, a sports medicine specialist at Cedars-Sinai Kerlan-Jobe Institute in Los Angeles. 'This may be something where you realize the pathology is a little bit more serious and reserve a way to allow him to return this season, even if it does take a month or two with him needing a longer recovery.'"

Less than ideal.

As Posey shared, two months out from the current trajectory would put McCaffrey in position to return around Weeks 12 and 13, in time for a potential 49ers stretch run and certainly early enough to ramp up for the postseason.

However, that would mean the Niners have to get by with Mason and the rest of the offense for approximately two-thirds of the season, which isn't ideal. And it increases the possibility San Francisco ultimately opts to shut him down for all of 2024 instead of prematurely rushing him back.

Damned you, Madden curse.

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