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NFL news, injury updates: Christian McCaffrey likely done for season, Trevor Lawrence on IR, Azeez Al-Shaair 3-game suspension upheld

It’s another massive blow to the 49ers in an injury-plagued year

Injuries continue to mount around the NFL, and with Thanksgiving in the rearview mirror — and playoff berths already clinched — the push is on to get healthy for the stretch run. But a couple of teams that were thought to be among the playoff contenders at the start of the year have had their seasons derailed by trips to the trainer's table.

The 49ers — who were already without Trent Williams, Nick Bosa and Deommodore Lenoir — saw Christian McCaffrey leave their blowout Sunday night loss to Buffalo early after a non-contact injury that didn't look good. He didn't return, and now the fear is his season — which was already shortened because of Achilles tendonitis in both legs — may be over. Also, in Jacksonville, the Jaguars will be without quarterback Trevor Lawrence for the rest of the season after he was concussed following an ugly, illegal hit on Sunday which led to him being carted off the field and Azeez Al-Shaair being ejected.

Christian McCaffrey's 2024 season could be over almost as quickly as it started. He checked himself out of his team's Sunday Night Football loss to the Bills — a game he was putting up big numbers in, with seven rushes for 53 yards in the early going — with what wound up being a PCL injury, according to head coach Kyle Shanahan. On Monday, the 49ers put McCaffrey back on IR, and with five games left in the season, we've likely seen the last of the running back this year.

McCaffrey missed the first eight games of the season with tendonitis in both Achilles. All of the 49ers’ key skill players on offense — Deebo Samuel, Jauan Jennings, Brandon Aiyuk (who is on IR), Brock Purdy, George Kittle and McCaffrey — have missed time on the injured list this season, in addition to All-Pro tackle Trent Williams and key stars on defense being out right now. San Francisco will now need a minor miracle, at 5-7 and 1-3 in the NFC West, to sneak into the playoffs after appearing in the last three NFC championship games.

The ugly hit on Jacksonville quarterback Trevor Lawrence is sure to be talked about at length this week, and on Tuesday, the league announced a three-game suspension for Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair. His suspension was upheld upon appeal. On Monday morning, Al-Shaair apologized to Lawrence in a post on social media. But the 2-10 Jaguars — who were 9-8 last year and have underperformed expectations in 2024 — had to finish up without their franchise signal caller.

Lawrence, who is in the first year of a five-year, $275 million extension, didn't return to the game after displaying the fencing response on the field after the hit — although after the game, he posted on social media that he was feeling better and resting at home. With the Jags going nowhere fast this season and now Lawrence's season is over after he was placed on injured reserve on Wednesday.

LIVE COVERAGE IS OVER34 updates
  • Cowboys G Zack Martin out for season after ankle surgery

    The seven-time First-team All-Pro and nine-time Pro Bowler played 10 games this season and had been out since Nov. 18.

    Also on Thursday, Martin was named the Cowboys' nominee for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award, given each year to an NFL player for his excellence and impact on and off the field.

  • NFL upholds Al-Shaair's suspension

    Texans LB Azeez Al-Shaair's suspension stands. The NFL upheld its decision on Wednesday night after his appeal.

    Click the photo to read more about Al-Shaair's suspension after the hit that concussed Trevor Lawrence on Sunday.

    JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 01: Azeez Al-Shaair #0 of the Houston Texans points to the Jacksonville Jaguars bench after a fight and being ejected during the second quarter of a game at EverBank Stadium on December 01, 2024 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
    Click the photo to read more about Azeez Al-Shaair's suspension. (Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
  • Trevor Lawrence set for season-ending surgery

    And just like that, a few hours after he landed on IR, Trevor Lawrence's season is over.

  • Thursday Night Football: Packers, Lions injury report

    The Packers have ruled out cornerback Jaire Alexander (knee), receiver Romeo Doubs (concussion), linebacker Edgerrin Cooper (hamstring) and cornerback Corey Ballentine (knee)

  • Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence heading to IR

    Lawrence's season looks to be over after suffering a concussion following a hit by Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair during Sunday's game.

    Al-Shaair has since been suspended three games by the NFL, but is appealing.

  • Ravens suspending WR Diontae Johnson for 1 game after he refused to enter loss to Eagles

    The Baltimore Ravens have suspended wide receiver Diontae Johnson for one game due to “conduct detrimental to the team,” the team announced on Wednesday afternoon.

    Johnson will serve the suspension during their game against the New York Giants on Dec. 15, which comes after their bye week this week. He'll be eligible to return for their game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Dec. 21.

    The issue, the team said in a statement, came after Johnson refused to enter their game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.

    Read the full story here.

  • QB Drew Lock will start again for Giants vs. Saints

  • Bills sign safety Micah Hyde to practice squad

    Micah Hyde originally signed with the Bills back in 2017 and played with them through 2023. He's now back on the team after signing with the practice squad.

  • QB Trevor Lawrence in concussion protocol

    Lawrence is in concussion protocol after Sunday's ugly hit by the Texans' Azeez Al-Shaair, who received a three-game suspension on Tuesday.

  • Week 14 playoff clinching scenarios

    From the NFL:

    AFC

    CLINCHED:

    Buffalo Bills (10-2) - AFC East division title

    Kansas City Chiefs (11-1) - playoff berth

    KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (11-1) vs. Los Angeles Chargers (8-4); Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC

    Kansas City clinches AFC West division title with:

    1. KC win

    NFC

    CLINCHED: None

    DETROIT LIONS (11-1) vs. Green Bay Packers (9-3); Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET, Prime Video

    Detroit clinches a playoff berth with:

    1. DET win or tie

    2. ATL loss or tie + SEA-ARI tie

    3. ATL loss or tie + ARI loss + LAR loss or tie

    4. ATL loss or tie + LAR loss or tie + PHI win

    5. ATL loss or tie + SEA loss + PHI win

    6. ATL loss or tie + ARI loss + PHI win + DET clinches at least a tie in strength of victory tiebreaker over PHI

    7. TB loss or tie + SEA-ARI tie

    8. TB loss or tie + ARI loss + LAR loss or tie

    9. TB loss or tie + LAR loss or tie + PHI win

    10. TB loss or tie + SEA loss + PHI win

    MINNESOTA VIKINGS (10-2) vs. Atlanta Falcons (6-6); Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, FOX

    Minnesota clinches a playoff berth with:

    1. MIN win + SEA-ARI tie

    2. MIN win + ARI loss + LAR loss or tie

    3. MIN tie + TB loss + ARI loss + LAR loss

    4. MIN tie + TB loss + ARI tie + LAR loss + PHI win or tie

    PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (10-2) vs. Carolina Panthers (3-9); Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, FOX

    Philadelphia clinches a playoff berth with:

    1. PHI win + ATL loss or tie + SEA-ARI tie

    2. PHI win + ATL loss or tie + ARI loss + LAR loss or tie

    3. PHI win + ATL loss or tie + ARI loss + DET win or tie

    4. PHI win + TB loss or tie + SEA-ARI tie

    5. PHI win + TB loss or tie + ARI loss + LAR loss or tie

    6. PHI win + TB loss or tie + ARI loss + DET win or tie

    7. PHI tie + ATL loss + SEA-ARI tie

    8. PHI tie + ATL loss + ARI loss + LAR loss or tie

    9. PHI tie + TB loss + SEA-ARI tie

    10. PHI tie + TB loss + ARI loss + LAR loss or tie

  • Vikings WR Jordan Addison pleads not guilty to DUI charges

    Minnesota Vikings receiver Jordan Addison pleaded not guilty to two misdemeanor DUI charges in a Los Angeles County court on Tuesday, according to the The Minnesota Star Tribune.

    Addison was charged for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol and driving with .08% blood alcohol content after police say they found him asleep at the wheel of his car near the Los Angeles International Airport in August.

    Addison has played this season without discipline from the NFL amid the pending charges. In 10 games, Addison has tallied 36 catches for 575 yards and four touchdowns for the 10-2 Vikings.

  • Titans rookie Julius Wood suspended 6 games for substance violation

    The NFL has suspended rookie Titans safety Julius Wood six games for violating the league's performance-enhancing substances policy.

    The NFL announced the discipline on Tuesday. Details of the violation are unclear. The ban will sideline Wood for the remainder of the season through the first game of next season.

    An undrafted rookie, Wood has seen limited action in nine games this season. He's played 115 snaps on special teams and five on defense with two total tackles.

  • Dak Prescott shares his hope for Mike McCarthy’s Cowboys future

    Five guaranteed games remain on Mike McCarthy’s contract.

    Dak Prescott hopes the Dallas Cowboys keep his coach for more.

    The Cowboys quarterback can’t meaningfully impact his team’s performance as he recovers from season-ending surgery to repair his hamstring tear. That bothers him.

    “Your coach seems like he's playing on his last contract and [I’m] almost feeling helpless like I can’t help him in this situation, especially a guy you believe in so much and you believe in being your head coach,” Prescott told Yahoo Sports during a Tuesday afternoon Zoom call. “Control what I can control, help and support Mike to every extent that I can.”

    Read the full story here.

  • Alex Highsmith expected back for Steelers' game vs. Browns

    Highsmith has been out since Oct. 28 with an ankle injury.

  • Packers WR Romeo Doubs remains in concussion protocol

    The Packers visit the Lions on Thursday. Doubs has not played since Nov. 24.

  • NFL suspends Titans DB Julius Wood

  • Nick Caserio had some strong words for the league about Azeez Al-Shaair's suspension

  • Mike Holmgren, Sterling Sharpe among finalists for 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame class

    These finalists will be considered for election into the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2025 alongside 15 modern-era players.

    Voting will take place in January and the class will be inducted in August.

  • Al-Shaair reportedly appealing his three-game suspension

  • Azeez Al-Shaair suspended 3 games for hit that concussed Trevor Lawrence

    The NFL has announced that Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair has been suspended three games for the hit that concussed Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence on Sunday and the subsequent brawl he sparked and engaged in.

    NFL VP of football operations Jon Runyan, who knows a thing or or two about illegal plays, issued the suspension.

    “Your lack of sportsmanship and respect for the game of football and all those who play, coach, and enjoy watching it, is troubling and does not reflect the core values of the NFL…Your continued disregard for NFL playing rules puts the health and safety of both you and your opponents in jeopardy and will not be tolerated.”

    Read the full story here.