In the immediate aftermath of the San Francisco 49ers' blowout loss to the Buffalo Bills, it appeared the Sunday Night Football defeat would be Christian McCaffrey's final game of 2024.

But on Monday his father Ed McCaffrey suggested that may not be the case.

The reigning Offensive Player of the Year suffered a PCL injury in the second quarter of the 35-10 loss, McCaffrey frustratingly forced to leave a game in which he was putting together his best performance since returning from bilateral Achilles tendinitis last month.

Speaking on 'Up and Adams' on Monday, Ed McCaffrey contradicted the suggestion the injury will definitely bring an end to a frustrating campaign for his son. 

"He has a PCL strain. He'll get an MRI today and hopefully it's not too serious and it's soemthing he can bounce back from pretty quickly," Ed McCaffrey said. 

"He'll do everything he can to get back on the field as quickly as possible."

He added that McCaffrey will try to return this season regardless of whether the 49ers remain in the playoff hunt. San Francisco still has a chance to win the NFC West, but at 5-7 their path to the postseason is narrowing.

"If he's ready to go, he'll go," Ed McCaffrey responded when asked if their playoff chances could influence his son's potential return.

McCaffrey's willingness to potentially play even if the 49ers see their postseason hopes fade away completely speaks to his competitive fire and pride, but it would likely be an ill-advised move given the injury issues he has endured in 2024.

Indeed, he would benefit from an elongated rest to prepare for 2025, but that may not be in the offing. With McCaffrey's season perhaps not quite over, it places even more onus on the 49ers to take their playoff push down to the wire.

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