Christian McCaffrey sparks worrying injury fears after going down untouched and heading straight to the locker room

San Francisco 49ers star running back Christian McCaffrey has been taken to the locker room during Sunday Night Football in a snowy Orchard Park, New York against the Buffalo Bills.

McCaffrey took a handoff early in the second quarter in the cold and wintry conditions when he appeared to suffer some kind of injury in his leg.

He slid on the snowy surface at Highmark Stadium and was later piled on by multiple Bills players. 

McCaffrey was able to walk off the field under his own power and then went with medical staff into the blue tent, then to the locker room.

According to team officials, McCaffrey has suffered a knee injury and is questionable to return.

It’s unclear exactly which leg was the one that was injured – as two competing theories have since surfaced as to when McCaffrey hurt his knee.

The first theory is that on the play above, McCaffrey injured his left knee as cameras appeared to catch his left leg buckling slightly before he slid down.

The social media account of Dr. Evan Jeffries, DPT – also known as @GameInjuryDoc – tweeted the video with the caption, ‘Early indication looks like Christian McCaffrey aggravated his calf/Achilles. Cold weather is more than likely a factor.’ 

A second theory from former NFL team doctor David J. Chao believes that McCaffrey hurt his knee in the play before as his right knee slammed into the turf. While it’s not seen in the tweeted video, it was shown on the NBC broadcast that McCaffrey got up and appeared to let out a scream.

‘The previous #CMC play is likely where knee injury happens,’ Chao tweeted. ‘Worry for right knee PCL sprain on shoestring tackle. The next run, he doesn’t feel right and goes down.’ 

Earlier this season, McCaffrey suffered a calf and Achilles injury that kept him out throughout the start of the campaign.

He had been placed on injured reserve after Week 2 and visited a specialist in Germany as he dealt with bilateral Achilles tendonitis.

McCaffrey was out until November 9 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 10.

He only played in three games since returning to the team – racking up 149 yards coming into this week’s contest.

One theory says McCaffrey’s left knee buckled before he slid down onto the turf and hobbled off

Another theory involves the play before the slide – on this shoestring tackle where his right knee slammed into the turf and caused the running back to let out a painful scream 

Prior to this season, McCaffrey missed extensive time in two previous seasons with the Carolina Panthers.

In 2020, he played in only three games as he dealt with a high ankle sprain, then a shoulder injury that ultimately ended his season.

He played in seven games in 2021 as he suffered both a hamstring injury and an ankle injury.

When healthy, McCaffrey has been one of the most reliable and important players on the 49ers team that he was traded to back in 2022.

Last season, he led the league in rushing yards with a career high mark of 1,459. He also rushed for 14 touchdowns and caught for seven touchdowns.