Brandon Aiyuk’s season is over.
The San Francisco 49ers suffered a knee injury during their 28-18 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, tests confirmed Monday, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Aiyuk has a torn ACL and ACL, and there could be further damage to his knee. He will undergo surgery in the near future.
#49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk does indeed have a torn ACL and MCL, according to sources after the MRI. There may be other damage.
His season is over, with a long road back to 2025. Here’s what coach Kyle Shanahan and SF believed after the game. pic.twitter.com/Ju5nxlgDLC
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 21, 2024
Aiyuk received a pass across the middle of the field late in the first half of Sunday’s match at Levi’s Stadium, but his knee buckled hard as he was hit and brought down. Ayiuk stayed on the field for quite some time before finally walking into the medical tent. He was eventually carted off to the locker room and ruled out of the match.
49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said after the game that the team feared he had suffered an ACL injury.
Aiyuk held out for most of both the offseason and preseason this fall as he sought a new long-term contract with the organization. He ultimately signed a four-year, $120 million deal to remain in San Francisco.
Aiyuk will finish the season with 374 yards and no touchdowns on 25 catches. All of these numbers are career lows for the 26-year-old, who the 49ers first selected with the No. 25 overall pick in the 2020 draft out of Arizona State. Aiyuk racked up a career-high of 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns last season while leading the 49ers to the Super Bowl.
Aiyuk’s injury is just the latest offense the 49ers have already faced this season. Star running back Christian McCaffrey still hasn’t seen the field while dealing with a calf and Achilles injury, and Deebo Samuel appeared in just a handful of snaps Sunday before leaving the game with an illness. Rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall made his NFL debut in Sunday’s loss after missing the first six games of the year after also being shot in the chest earlier this fall.
The 49ers dropped to 3-4 on the season after Sunday’s loss. They host the Dallas Cowboys next week.
