The Panthers have placed Christian McCaffrey on injured reserve, per a club announcement. Since this is his second trip to IR in 2021, the move will mark the end of the running back’s season. 
CMC previously missed five games with a hamstring injury. This time around, it’s an ankle injury that’ll require multiple months of rehab.
McCaffrey was forced out early yesterday as the Dolphins went on to win 33-10. The loss dropped them to 5-7 on the year, further crushing their slim odds of reaching the postseason.
The Panthers got off to a 3-0 start with McCaffrey in the lineup, then dropped four of five games without him. Even after his return, they’ve lost three of four contests, though the offense was clearly better with him in the backfield. His Week 10 showing performance against Arizona — 13 carries, ten catches, and 150+ all-purpose yards — propelled them to their only win in November.
Between the last two years, McCaffrey has appeared in just ten games for the Panthers. It’s hardly what anyone envisioned for CMC after he inked a $16MM-per-year extension in 2020. In 2019, his last healthy campaign, McCaffrey made a push for Chris Johnson‘s record with 2,392 scrimmage yards.
Now, his ’21 season will end with 442 rushing yards and one touchdown, plus 37 catches for 343 yards and one receiving TD across seven games. The Panthers will likely add another RB to the mix between now and their next game, a Dec. 12 matchup against the Falcons.
More time to spend with Olivia Culpo now…..
Had no idea who that was so I googled her. She ain’t ugly lol
Until she moves on to the next athlete…
That organization ran him into the ground the first few years. Hopefully he bounces back, but his body just may be done at this point.
Guessing they wish they didn’t give him that huge contract.
Same thing appears to have happened to Leveon Bell, another hybrid running back with too many touches. Redskins seem to have this in the plan for lightweight back/receiver Anthony Gibson who should not be attempting to carry the team on his back.
There’s no way they ran him into the ground in his first 2 years in the league. Plenty of backs have taken worse workloads for much longer. A lot of his work is catching the ball, he’s not getting crushed in between tackles like a lot of the other backs in the league. Pro NFL backs don’t get overused in 2 seasons. I should play their best players half time their whole careers so they never have to take a hit.
How is a “rolled ankle” that’s apparently minor enough you go back into the game… cause for an IR trip?
Players work through broken bones and strains regularly, but when the adrenalin subsides, the severity of their injuries often comes to light.
I would think the xrays coming back negative, just this morning, also indicated it not being severe.
I mean, I guess it’s bad, or they wouldn’t put him on IR. But why all the silly ‘good news’? They’re on bye next week, so there’s no need for gamesmanship to throw off an opponent.
It’s just curious, is all.
Lost season is what it means. Why break him down more?
Not really though, they’re a half-game out of the last playoff spot with 5 games left
…and they’re paying him $16M/yr.
1/2 game out of the last playoff spot, with 5 games to ho doesn’t make them relevant. Seattle was technically still in the hunt prior to last night at 3-7.
I wonder how much of this decision was McCaffrey’s. He was healthy for his last college game, but chose not to play to “save himself” for important games. Fighting for the last wild card spot with a bum ankle doesn’t seem like a real important goal for him.
CMC…..how cute.
I’m well and truly done with this dude.
So I’m assuming that Walter Payton or emmet smith would be done too?? This guy is made of glass. Don’t blame the team. He’s got money and a hot fiancée he doesn’t need to play football! He’ll be next to Romo very soon