Christian McCaffrey injury update: 49ers RB placed on injured reserve with PCL injury

Injured reserve list for McCaffrey:

Football can be a tough sport at any level, but lately we’re hearing a lot about pro-football and the many injuries happening with different teams across the US.

In December 2024, the San Francisco 49ers feared that Christian McCaffrey injured his PCL during Sunday night’s 35-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills. The results from his MRI showed that he did, indeed, sustain an injury to his PCL.

What is a PCL injury in the knee?

The PCL, also called the posterior cruciate ligament, is one of two cruciate ligaments in the knee that form an “X” within the center of the joint, working collectively to limit forward, backward, and rotational movement of the shin bone and the thigh bone. The ACL is the ligament most-injured in football, and the ligament we hear the most about. However, the PCL can be susceptible to injury if a football player is tackled or hit at just the right angle. The PCL is one of the least-injured ligaments in the knee due to the larger size and it’s two segments that join to form the strongest of the 4 knee ligaments.

How did McCaffrey injure his PCL?

When watching the re-runs of Christian McCaffrey’s specific injury, my educated guess would be that the tackle he sustained is responsible for his PCL injury. The posterior cruciate ligament is most-often injured when a substantial force on the anterior shin and knee occurs while the knee is bent causing a stretch of PCL or more severe injuries can cause a tear.

Will Christian McCaffrey need surgery for his PCL injury?

This depends on a number of factors for McCaffrey’s injury, but I can tell you how I grade PCL injuries that I see in my office:

  • Grade 1 injury: Shows minimal damage from the ligament being pulled or stretched.
  • Grade 2 injury: Occurs when the ligament is stretched beyond its limits resulting in a partial tear from the attachment site.
  • Grade 3 injury: Results in knee joint instability from a complete rupture of the ligament into two separate pieces.

My guess, given the reports that McCaffrey will be on injured reserve for 6 weeks is that his injury is Grade 1 or 2. If it were a Grade 3 injury, he would require reconstructive surgery that would put him out of play for the rest of the season.  Grade 1 or 2 injuries to the PCL can often heal on their own with proper physical therapy, bracing, and careful management.

What does a PCL injury feel like?

Most of my patients who have sustained a posterior cruciate ligament injury report the following symptoms:

  • Pop at the time of injury
  • Pain
  • Instability or buckling of the knee
  • Swelling and/or bruising
  • Stiffness after the injury
  • Tenderness along the back of the knee
  • Limping and sometimes the inability to walk, depending on the severity of the injury

Will Christian McCaffrey be able to play football after a PCL injury?

Most of my football-injury athletes are able to recover completely from a PCL injury and are able to return to the sport they love. It’s not a “quick fix” however, even when the injury does not require surgery. Often a period of immobilization, or non-weight bearing needs to occur, along with a carefully planned physical therapy program. Other factors can certainly affect return to play, such as age, health history, weight, activity level and grade of injury.  McCaffrey has access to excellent team physicians and physical therapists, so his prognosis is good.

How do I get the best PCL care near me?

If you suspect an injury to your PCL, ACL or any of the 4 knee ligaments, see a fellowship-trained orthopedic sports medicine surgeon. I’ve been specially trained to treat all orthopedic injuries, not just those sustained while playing football. I specialize in sports medicine for the knee, hip, and shoulder for patients in in Sugar Land, Pearland and the surrounding Houston, TX areas. I can also offer an informed second opinion, giving you your best options for a full recovery.