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After weeks of speculation, the Carolina Panthers reportedly traded star running back Christian McCaffrey, sending him back to where he starred in college.

Multiple media outlets reported Thursday night that the Panthers are trading McCaffrey to San Francisco. According to NFL.com, Carolina will receive three 2023 draft picks (second, third and fourth round) and a fifth-rounder in 2024 in exchange for the former Stanford star.

McCaffrey established himself as one of the top offensive weapons in the NFL upon entering the league as the eighth overall pick in 2017. His best season came in 2019, when he eclipsed 1,000 yards both rushing and receiving and totaled 19 touchdowns.

Injuries have hampered him since, however, as he played in 16 of his team’s 39 games since the start of the 2020 season. He has 393 yards on 85 carries and 277 yards on 33 receptions with three total scores thus far in 2022.

The Panthers (1-5) appear to be in a full-blown rebuild at this point, having traded receiver Robbie Anderson to Arizona earlier this week. Anderson had been sent to the locker room during Carolina’s 24-10 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday following arguments with coaches on the sideline.

Carolina fired head coach Matt Rhule earlier this month after the team stumbled to a 1-4 start.

The 49ers are off to a 3-3 start after reaching the NFC Championship Game last season.

San Francisco has employed a running-back-by-committee philosophy in recent years, due in part to injuries at the position. The story has continued into this season, with starter Elijah Mitchell going down with a knee injury in Week 1. Jeff Wilson Jr. has assumed the No. 1 role and performed well in recent weeks. His 81 carries, 400 rushing yards and two rushing scores all lead the club.

The team’s second-leading rusher is receiver Deebo Samuel (136 yards), and their No. 3 rusher is quarterback Trey Lance — and he was lost for the season to an ankle injury in Week 2.

–Field Level Media