The San Francisco 49ers have officially placed running back Christian McCaffrey on injured reserve. He sustained a PCL injury during Sunday's loss to the Buffalo Bills. Running back Jordan Mason is also expected to be placed on injured reserve in the coming days after suffering a high-ankle sprain.
The 49ers also announced they have claimed running back Israel Abanikanda off waivers from the New York Jets. Additionally, the team has signed wide receiver Ronnie Bell to the practice squad.
NFL Media's Tom Pelissero reports that the 49ers are also signing former Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Ke'Shawn Vaughn to the practice squad. However, the team has yet to announce this move officially.
The #49ers also are signing former #Bucs RB Ke'Shawn Vaughn to the practice squad, per source. https://t.co/EHPX1yObp0
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) December 3, 2024
Having spent training camp with the team, Vaughn is already familiar with San Francisco's system. He also had a stint on the 49ers' practice squad earlier this season before being released on November 12.
The 49ers Communications staff provided the following rundown.
Abanikanda (5-10, 216) was originally drafted by the Jets in the fifth round (143rd overall) of the 2023 NFL Draft. Throughout his two-year career, Abanikanda has appeared in six games and registered 22 carries for 70 yards on the ground to go along with seven receptions for 43 yards. In 2024, Abanikanda was inactive for each of the Jets' 12 games this season prior to being waived by the team on December 2, 2024.
A 22-year-old native of Brooklyn, NY, Abanikanda attended the University of Pittsburgh (2020-22), where he appeared in 30 games and registered 385 carries for 2,161 yards and 28 touchdowns on the ground to go along with 38 receptions for 354 yards and three touchdowns through the air. In 2022, Abanikanda earned First-Team All-ACC.
Bell (6-0, 190) was originally drafted by the 49ers in the seventh round (253rd overall) of the 2023 NFL Draft. Throughout his two-year career, Bell has appeared in 26 games and registered eight receptions for 90 yards and three touchdowns. In 2024, he appeared in nine games and registered two receptions for 22 yards. He was waived by the team on November 30, 2024.
A 24-year-old native of Kansas City, MO, Bell attended the University of Michigan (2018-22), where he appeared in 47 games (31 starts), registered 145 receptions for 2,269 yards, and earned Third-Team All-Big Ten honors (2022).
McCaffrey (5-11, 210) started in all four games he appeared in this season and registered 50 carries for 202 yards on the ground to go along with 15 receptions for 146 yards.