Carolina Panthers RB Christian McCaffrey to miss rest of NFL season with ankle injury

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey will miss the remainder of the season because of a left ankle injury suffered in the first half of Sunday's 33-10 loss at the Miami Dolphins.

Initial X-rays on Sunday indicated the injury didn't appear to be too severe, coach Matt Rhule said Monday morning. But an MRI later in the morning revealed the damage was enough to place McCaffrey on season-ending injured reserve because of the time it would take for him to recover.

McCaffrey will not need surgery provided the ankle heals properly, a source said, and he is expected to be ready for the 2022 season.

The Panthers (5-7) are on a bye this week, so McCaffrey will miss the final five regular-season games. He already has missed five games this season with a hamstring injury suffered in Week 3. He missed 13 games last season with multiple injuries.

Since signing a four-year, $64 million extension that made him the highest-paid running back in NFL history, McCaffrey will have played in only 10 of 33 games by the end of this season.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/32746138/carolina-panthers-rb-christian-mccaffrey-miss-rest-season-ankle-injury