San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey suffered a PCL injury in the 49ers’ 35-10 Week 13 loss to the Buffalo Bills.

However, on Wednesday, a video emerged of McCaffrey signing autographs at a local hospital and it showed his injury may have been more serious than previously thought.

Christian McCaffrey appears to have had PCL surgery

During a recent visit to Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, McCaffrey was wearing, according to Dr. Jeff Mueller had a large brace on his knee, suggesting he had undergone a PCL reconstruction or repair.

Uhhhhh…. It appears that Christian McCaffrey had to have his PCL reconstructed or repaired…?

This is not good. https://t.co/ZzJaYXSU1e

— Jeff Mueller, PT, DPT (@jmthrivept) December 25, 2024

McCaffrey suffered the PCL injury during a tight tackle against the Bills and is currently on injured reserve.

While we knew this PCL injury would be season-ending, the fact that he appeared to need surgery could indicate he will be sidelined longer than originally expected.

McCaffrey’s 2024 season was marred by several injuries.

At the start of training camp, McCaffrey strained his calf, sidelining him for the entire preseason. Then it turned out McCaffrey was suffering from Achilles tendonitis in both legs and was sidelined until Week 10.

Upon his return, McCaffrey looked mostly his old self, even if the flashy numbers weren’t there. Unfortunately, he never got a chance to really get going as he only lasted four games before suffering a PCL injury.

Following a PCL injury, McCaffrey released the following statement on Instagram.

“For me, football is the greatest game in the world,” he wrote. “I love that you can figure out exactly who you are without ever saying a word. It lifts you up and breaks you down, and it can happen quickly. It’s humiliating in the best possible way. You can do everything right and still fail.

“(This is) life and this is football. It’s a constant test of will and those who just keep going tend to reap the rewards of their persistence. This wasn’t my year and sometimes when it rains it pours.”

The hope is that this PCL injury will not have a lasting impact next season, especially since this is a player with a long injury history who will begin his season at age 29.

Christian McCaffrey’s heartwarming holiday

McCaffrey lit up Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital before Christmas, bringing the holiday spirit to young patients and their families. Armed with gifts and a big smile, he proved he is a leader in more ways than one.

“The moment he walked through the hospital doors, there was an electric atmosphere of excitement and joy,” said Elizabeth Valente, spokeswoman for Stanford Medicine Children’s Health. “McCaffrey’s presence illuminated the faces of these brave young fighters, allowing them to momentarily escape the rigors of their medical challenges and experience the magic of the holidays.”

“I started the Logan Project so that children in the hospital still have the opportunity to connect with others and do the things they love to do,” McCaffrey said. “My foundation was very happy to partner with Stanford Medicine Children’s Health and bring some of our systems to patients here at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital.”

This visit perfectly reflects McCaffrey’s personality on the field – selfless, determined and always making a difference. But this gesture reminded everyone that greatness means more than just statistics.

In their post, the hospital thanked McCaffrey and highlighted all of his efforts.

“The holidays can be a challenging time for families spending them in the hospital, but yesterday Christian McCaffrey helped make this time of year brighter for our patients and their loved ones.

“From visiting patients’ rooms and sharing smiles to giving away special food delivery cards, unique timepieces for children to share with their parents, and even playing games with patients on consoles donated by the Logan Project, Christian has created memories that last will last a lifetime.

“We are deeply grateful to Christian and the @christianmccaffreyfoundation for their incredible generosity and compassion. You have brought joy, hope and the true spirit of the holidays to our community.”