San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey is dealing with a calf injury, and given his extensive injury history, this should be taken very seriously. While the team and McCaffrey himself might downplay the situation, the reality is this injury has the potential to derail the 49ers' season before it even begins.
One player who will potentially be most affected by McCaffrey's absence is quarterback Brock Purdy. Last season, McCaffrey suffered a similar injury and missed nearly the entire year. The current situation closely mirrors that troubling timeline.
Purdy is expected to be a top contender for the MVP this season. But can he win the award without his star running back? That's the concern.
On Saturday, CBS Sports' Douglas Clawson noted that the injury "puts a giant burden on Brock Purdy," who signed a five-year, $265 million extension in May.
Purdy has shown MVP-caliber play under head coach Kyle Shanahan when playing with a full complement of weapons, including McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, Trent Williams and George Kittle. However, Clawson noted that Purdy's career record is 10-11 when any of these key players are sidelined, compared to 17-4 when all five are healthy.
If the 49ers receive confirmation that McCaffrey will miss more than just the season opener against the Seattle Seahawks, it would be a major blow for Brock Purdy because that would increase the pressure on the QB's shoulders to perform in less favorable game situations.
Douglas Clawson pointed out Purdy's struggle in trailing or tied games, with nine touchdowns and 15 interceptions in such moments, including playoffs.
The situation in San Francisco is tense after the 49ers missed the playoffs last season. The last thing the team wants to hear now is news of another long-term injury to Christian McCaffrey.