Former Panthers Star’s Season Likely Over After Injury News

With the Carolina Panthers not exactly in playoff contention in 2024, fans have had plenty of time to keep an eye on some familiar faces as they try to make impacts on their new teams. Whether you want to see old fan favorites succeed in new homes or root against their success now that they don't play for the Panthers, it's hard not to feel some emotion when thinking about past players.

And regardless of what you want for them, one thing nobody wants to see is injuries. That made it a crushing blow for all Panthers fans when news broke on Tuesday about the severity of Christian McCaffrey's knee injury.

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan announced that the former Panthers superstar is dealing with a torn PCL, which all but guarantees that his season is over before it ever really had a chance to get started.

Returning six weeks after the day of the injury would have McCaffrey first even considering suiting up on January 12th — the Wild Card round of the NFL Playoffs. Realistically the team would want him to practice before playing, making for a Divisional Round return at best. And the 49ers' chances of reaching the divisional round are slim to none.

At 6-7 and fourth place in the NFC West, their chances to make the playoffs have been falling dramatically, and playing without McCaffrey certainly won't help. They have almost no shot of earning a Wild Card spot (they'd have to catch the 8-5 Washington Commanders), and FanDuel Sportsbook has them at only +1400 to win the NFC West.

However, McCaffrey is still under contract in San Francisco for a couple more years, so expect the former Panthers to be back at full strength in 2025.

Meanwhile, it's sad to see McCaffrey gone, but the emergence of Chuba Hubbard in Carolina has made it a lot easier to stomach the blow of losing the best running back in franchise history.

More Carolina Panthers news and rumors:

Odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.