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Christian McCaffrey reportedly in walking boot after injuring ankle vs. Dolphins

Christian McCaffrey spent the second half on Sunday roaming the Carolina Panthers sideline after rolling his ankle against the Miami Dolphins.

After the game, he skipped speaking with media and was seen by a local reporter in a walking boot. Head coach Matt Rhule confirmed that McCaffrey rolled his ankle and tried to return the game. But the Panthers declined to provide a further injury update, leaving his status and his prognosis unclear.

Regardless, it adds up to more bad news for the electric Panthers running back who's now seen a second straight season derailed by injuries.

MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 28: Christian McCaffrey #22 of the Carolina Panthers leaves the field after the game against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on November 28, 2021 in Miami Gardens, Florida. Miami defeated Carolina 33-10 (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)
Christian McCaffrey without his helmet on has become an increasingly familiar sight. (Eric Espada/Getty Images) (Getty Images)

How bad is McCaffrey's injury?

McCaffrey suffered the injury in the first half of Sunday's 33-10 loss at Miami. Fox's Jen Hale initially reported that McCaffrey had rolled his ankle just before halftime, long before the team acknowledged the injury. He ran 10 times for 35 carries in the first half. He briefly returned to the field after halftime, but didn't run the ball again as he remained in uniform on the Panthers sideline for most of the half.

After the game, a team spokesperson told reporters that McCaffrey wouldn't be available to media. The Athletic's Joe Person reported that there appeared to be "a disconnect with his injury" and how it was reported. Meanwhile, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel's Omar Kelly reports that he saw McCaffrey wearing a walking boot on his injured left leg.

The Panthers declined to provide a postgame update of his status beyond Rhule's statement and didn't address his walking boot as of the time of this post.

McCaffrey, who missed all but three games in 2020 with various injuries, returned in Week 9 this season from a hamstring injury that sidelined him five games. In total, he's missed 18 of a possible 28 games the last two seasons.

The 5-7 Panthers have a bye next week before a Week 14 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons.