San Francisco 49ers’ standout player Christian McCaffrey was forced to exit Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Browns early due to an oblique injury, a blow to the team’s offensive firepower.
McCaffrey, who managed to score a touchdown early in the Cleveland matchup, was visibly in pain on the sidelines during the third quarter. The team’s medical staff attended to him, though the specifics of the injury remain unclear.
He briefly returned to the field after being initially labeled questionable, but McCaffrey’s discomfort became evident once more, prompting him to sprint to the locker room. He was officially ruled out early in the fourth quarter.
His absence was felt keenly, especially considering McCaffrey’s remarkable touchdown record. He had caught a 13-yard touchdown in the game’s opening drive, marking his 15th consecutive game with a touchdown—a feat that tied him with legends O.J. Simpson and John Riggins for the second-longest streak in league history, including playoffs. Only Lenny Moore surpassed this accomplishment with a streak of 17 straight games.
When McCaffrey left the game, he had accumulated 43 rushing yards on 11 carries and made nine receiving yards on three catches. Despite this setback, the 49ers initially kept the score close, trailing the Browns 13-10 at the start of the fourth quarter.
They managed to regain the lead after D Lenoir intercepted Browns quarterback P.J. Walker, setting up an eight-yard touchdown run by Jordan Mason.
However, the game ultimately slipped away from the 49ers. San Francisco kicker Jake Moody missed a crucial 41-yard field goal in the final moments, costing them their first loss of the season. Moody, previously flawless in his kicking this season, faltered with two missed field goals on Sunday.
In the loss, quarterback Brock Purdy completed 12 of 27 passes for 125 yards, securing a touchdown but also throwing an interception. Jordan Mason stepped up in McCaffrey’s absence, gaining 27 rushing yards on five carries and scoring a ground touchdown. Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk contributed with 76 receiving yards on four catches.
On the other side, Browns’ backup quarterback P.J. Walker, filling in for the injured Deshaun Watson, completed 18 of 34 passes for 192 yards but threw two interceptions.
Running back Kareem Hunt managed 47 rushing yards and a touchdown on 12 carries, while wide receiver Amari Cooper shone with 108 receiving yards on four catches. The Browns, who had fallen to the Baltimore Ravens the previous week, now stand at a 3-2 season record.
