SANTA CLARA — The 49ers’ worst suspicions were confirmed Monday when it was learned Brandon Aiyuk was lost for the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
The news, first reported by Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz, came as no surprise given coach Kyle Shanahan’s dire prognosis of a torn ACL following a 28-18 loss Sunday to the Kansas City Chiefs.
“That’s what it looks like, but we don’t know for sure, just doing the test and everything with our hands and with the trainers, all that,” Shanahan said.”That’s what we fear. That’s what it looks like, but we’ve been wrong before. So, praying that we are.”
The 49ers coach is scheduled to speak with local media on a conference call late Monday afternoon.
Aiyuk was injured when hit by defensive backs Trent McDuffie and Chamarri Cooper at the Chiefs 14-yard line late in the first half. He stayed on the field on his back for a time, then with the help of the training staff hobbled off the field. However, he was then placed on a cart, driven to the locker room and could be seen pointing to his right knee.
The injury comes after a contentious offseason holdout for a contract extension in which the former first-round draft pick was nearly traded. He eventually signed a four-year deal worth a maximum of $130 million.
A year after catching 79 passes for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns and had a miracle catch off the helmet of a defender during the 49ers’ 34-31 comeback win over Detroit in the NFC Championship Game, Aiyuk finishes the season with 25 receptions for 374 yards and no touchdowns.
Aiyuk, 26, had two catches for 23 yards against the Chiefs and one conspicuous drop from quarterback Brock Purdy that could have gone for big yardage. The 49ers were also without wide receiver Deebo Samuel, who reported to work with an illness Sunday morning. Jauan Jennings, the 49ers’ No. 3 wideout, was out with a hip injury but the hope is he’ll return to face the Dallas Cowboys in Week 8.
The injury was the latest in series of issues for the 49ers, who have lost defensive tackle Javon Hargrave with a torn triceps for the season and while running back Christian McCaffery, the 2023 NFL Offensive Player of the Year, has yet to play because of Achilles tendinitis in both ankles. There is no timetable as yet for McCaffery’s return.
Talanoa Hufanga, an All-Pro safety in 2022, has played in just one game after recovering from a torn ACL, was felled by a wrist injury, placed on injured reserve and not eligible to return until Week 11. Linebacker Dre Greenlaw remains on the physically unable to perform list rehabbing an Achilles’ tear and his return date has not been determined.
If Jennings and Samuel return this week, the 49ers will look to get steady progress from Ricky Pearsall Jr., a first-round draft pick who made his 49ers debut Sunday after sustaining a gunshot wound to the chest on Aug. 31. Fourth-round pick Jacob Cowing caught two passes for 50 yards against the Chiefs, his first two receptions of the season. Also on the roster are Chris Conley and Ronnie Bell.
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The NFL trade deadline is Nov. 5 if the 49ers want to look outside the organization for help at wide receiver. Recent deals have seen Davante Adams going from the Raiders to the Jets and Amari Cooper from the Browns to the Bills.
“I don’t know, depends what’s available, depends on the risk and reward with everything,” Shanahan said post-game. “We look into everything and every situation, but have to balance all that out.”
More to come on this breaking story . . .
