SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey will not need surgery on his injured right knee but he will miss the rest of the regular season.

Coach Kyle Shanahan said McCaffrey will be out at least six weeks after injuring his posterior cruciate ligament in a loss to the Buffalo Bills.

McCaffrey will be placed on injured reserve for the second time this season after previously missing the first eight games with Achilles tendinitis

The 49ers also lost McCaffrey’s backup to an injury.

Jordan Mason is also set to go on injured reserve after suffering a high ankle sprain in the game.

AL-SHAAIR APOLOGIZES FOR HIT

HOUSTON (AP) — Houston’s Azeez Al-Shaair took to X to apologize to Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence after his violent blow to the quarterback’s facemask led to him being carted off the field with a concussion.

Back in the starting lineup after missing two games with a sprained left shoulder, Lawrence scrambled left on a second-and-7 play in the second quarter of Houston’s 23-20 win on Sunday.

He initiated a slide before Al-Shaair raised his forearm and unleashed on the defenseless quarterback.

In the long post, Al-Shaair says “To Trevor I genuinely apologize to you for what ended up happening.”

JETS ARE STICKING WITH RODGERS

By The Associated Press

Aaron Rodgers will remain the New York Jets’ starting quarterback despite speculation the team could bench him in what has been a disappointing season.

Interim coach Jeff Ulbrich said during a video call that he still believes Rodgers, who turned 41 on Monday, gives the Jets their best chance to win.

Rodgers was 21 of 39 for 185 yards and touchdown passes to Davante Adams and Isaiah Davis but also had an interception returned 92 yards for a touchdown by Leonard Williams in the Jets’ 26-21 loss to Seattle on Sunday.

SAMAAN LEAVES ROLE WITH LPGA

By The Associated Press

Mollie Marcoux Samaan is leaving after more than three years as LPGA commissioner.

In a surprise announcement Monday, Marcoux Samaan said she will step down in January, just three weeks before the LPGA starts its 75th season. Liz Moore is the chief legal and technology officer.

She’ll be serving as interim commissioner until a search committee can find a permanent replacement.

Marcoux Samaan was the athletic director at Princeton when she took over the LPGA in May 2021.

Prize money has soared during her tenure.

She also has faced criticism for the LPGA not gaining in popularity during a rise in women’s sports.