SANTA CLARA — The 49ers’ offense likely will be without Brandon Aiyuk for the rest of the 2024 NFL season as the wideout is feared to have sustained an ACL injury in San Francisco’s 28-18 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday at Levi’s Stadium.
“We are worried it’s an ACL,” coach Kyle Shanahan said after the game. “Not confirmed yet, but we will find out for sure tomorrow.”
Aiyuk’s injury, suffered late in the first half, is a huge blow to the 49ers’ wide receiver group, which was considered the deepest position on the roster. Now, moving forward, Shanahan will need other players to step up in order to try to get his offense back on track.
But it is not time for the 49ers to look outside the building to add to the group, at least not yet.
In the past, Deebo Samuel has been a receiver that Shanahan has leaned on to carry the offensive load, but on Sunday morning, the wide receiver was struck with an illness that he initially tried to play through.
Samuel was on the field for early warmups but did not return for pre-game drills. The All-Pro eventually came out to the field attempting to play but was unable to catch his breath, leaving the field a few minutes before halftime and did not return to the game.
In the week leading up to the game, Samuel was dealing with a wrist injury that limited him in practice, but by Friday, he was not on the 49ers’ injury report. Most likely, the talented wide receiver will be able to play against the Dallas Cowboys next Sunday night.
