SANTA CLARA, Calif. — On a day when the San Francisco 49ers celebrated the return of 1 vast receiver, they misplaced one other — presumably for the season.
Brandon Aiyuk, who has led the Niners in most receiving classes previously two seasons, suffered what the crew fears is a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his proper knee in Sunday’s 28-18 loss to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs.
If the additional testing Aiyuk has coming within the subsequent 24 hours confirms that analysis, Aiyuk will want surgical procedure and miss the remainder of the season.
“That is what it seems like, however we do not know for positive,” coach Kyle Shanahan stated. “Been improper earlier than. So, praying that we’re.”
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At first of the day, Aiyuk was the one wholesome 49er among the many crew’s prime three wideouts. Jauan Jennings was dominated out Friday with a hip harm, whereas Deebo Samuel arrived at Levi’s Stadium with an sickness that was introduced about half-hour earlier than the sport with the caveat that Samuel was anticipated to play.
Samuel walked onto the sector simply earlier than the sport began and took part within the coin toss however was shifting slowly. He performed 4 snaps however rapidly retreated to the sideline and didn’t return. He had no catches or carries earlier than his day was over.
“Throat, abdomen issues, simply actual fatigued,” Shanahan stated. “Struggled to breathe, could not catch his breath … he saved attempting to combat by it, however as soon as he was combating the respiration and all the things, we needed to shut him down.”
Whereas the Niners are hopeful that Jennings and Samuel might be again for subsequent week’s sport in opposition to the Dallas Cowboys, Aiyuk’s state of affairs seems extra severe.
With 48 seconds left within the second quarter, Niners quarterback Brock Purdy discovered Aiyuk between two Kansas Metropolis defenders for a acquire of 15 yards. Chiefs defensive backs Chamarri Conner and Trent McDuffie converged on Aiyuk as he took a low hit, leaving his knee in a precarious place.
Aiyuk stayed down as Niners medical personnel got here out to assist earlier than he was capable of rise up, slowly limp to the sideline and head to the medical tent. He went to the locker room quickly after and a return was dominated out because the third quarter opened.
He had two catches for 23 yards on the time of his departure, leaving the receiver duties to veterans Chris Conley and Ronnie Bell and rookies Ricky Pearsall and Jacob Cowing.
“It sucks,” tight finish George Kittle stated. “I really like Brandon Aiyuk, the vitality that he brings, what he can do on the soccer discipline, routes, catching the ball. He is an unbelievable soccer participant … You’ll be able to’t actually substitute, for my part, among the finest receivers within the NFL.”
The 49ers signed Aiyuk to a four-year, $120 million extension in August after an prolonged contract dispute that just about resulted in him being traded to a number of groups, together with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns.
In 2023, Aiyuk had 75 receptions for 1,342 yards and 7 touchdowns en path to second-team All-Professional honors. However he was off to a slower begin this yr with 25 catches for 374 yards and no scores.
Nonetheless, Aiyuk’s loss isn’t any small factor, particularly when paired with the opposite vital accidents that proceed to pile up for the Niners. If Aiyuk misses an prolonged interval, he would be a part of working again Christian McCaffrey (Achilles tendinitis), linebacker Dre Greenlaw (torn Achilles), defensive sort out Javon Hargrave (torn triceps) and security Talanoa Hufanga (torn ligaments in his wrist) amongst key 49ers to be out for a major period of time.
That might additionally put further stress on Pearsall, the No. 31 decide in April’s draft, to provide faster than anticipated. Pearsall made his debut Sunday, simply 50 days after struggling a gunshot wound to the fitting aspect of his chest in an tried arm theft in San Francisco.
“What BA does for our offense and who he’s and as a teammate and the brother of ours, man, it is unhappy,” Purdy stated. “Want him nothing however the very best and praying for him. In order that’s my man. And when he goes down like that, clearly now we have different guys that may step up and do their job very well … all of us simply received to return collectively as a gaggle collectively, the receiver unit and all of us.”
