The 49ers and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk got the worst news on his injured right knee. According to a report from Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz, tests confirmed the 49ers’ leading receiver from 2023 has suffered a torn ACL in his right knee.
NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport also reported it is more than just an ACL injury. Aiyuk also has a torn MCL with potential for more damage showing up on Aiyuk’s MRI.
Aiyuk sustained the injury late in the second quarter of the 49ers’ 28-18 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. The 2023 All-Pro limped to the blue medical tent before riding a cart into the locker room. He was ruled out by the 49ers at halftime.
This is a tough blow for Aiyuk who was off to a slow start in 2024. He had 25 catches for 374 yards before his injury, and he never got a chance to get on track after missing training camp while negotiating a long-term contract extension.
His timeline for return is still unclear, but his 2024 campaign is over.
The 49ers’ receiving corps will now rely heavily on Deebo Samuel and Jauan Jennings to pick up the slack. Sunday also gave us a glimpse into how rookies Ricky Pearsall and Jacob Cowing could also fit into the equation. They both saw a ton of action with Aiyuk, Samuel and Jennings all out of Sunday’s game by halftime.
Navigating life without Aiyuk will be an adjustment since defenses devote so many resources to slowing him down. How San Francisco’s offense adapts will ultimately define how the rest of their season goes.
