Former Arizona State and current San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk is reportedly out for the season after taking a scary hit in San Francisco’s 28-18 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Fox Sports insider Jordan Schultz reported on X: “Sources: #49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk suffered a season-ending knee injury on Sunday, tests confirmed.”
Sources: #49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk suffered a season-ending knee injury on Sunday, tests confirmed. pic.twitter.com/QTedEGNPL7
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) October 21, 2024
NFL Network‘s Ian Rapoport later had a more detailed report: “Aiyuk does, in fact, have a torn ACL and MCL, per sources after the MRI. There may be other damage. His season is over, with a long road back for 2025. This is what coach Kyle Shanahan and SF believed following the game.”
#49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk does, in fact, have a torn ACL and MCL, per sources after the MRI. There may be other damage.
His season is over, with a long road back for 2025. This is what coach Kyle Shanahan and SF believed following the game. pic.twitter.com/Ju5nxlgDLC
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 21, 2024
Just before the end of the first half against Kansas City, Aiyuk’s leg awkwardly bent inwards after getting hit low on a tackle. He was down for a while before eventually going back into the locker room.
Brandon Aiyuk #49ers
Significant valgus (knee caving inward) here. This puts the ACL and MCL (amongst others) at risk. Hoping for the best pic.twitter.com/1HyyUboFs0
— Tom Christ, PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT (@FantasyInjuryT) October 20, 2024
The 49ers have dealt with injuries to key players all season, as they sit at 3-4 just one season after going to the Super Bowl.
Aiyuk signed a reported four-year, $120 million extension with San Francisco this offseason after a drama-filled negotiation cycle. He had been struggling up to this point with only 25 catches for 347 yards and 0 touchdowns in seven games played. His only game with over 50 yards the whole season came when he had eight catches for 147 yards in a 24-23 loss to the Arizona Cardinals in Week 5.
Aiyuk tallied 75 receptions for a career-high 1,342 yards to go along with seven touchdowns in the 2023-24 season.
He played at Arizona State after joining to the Sun Devils out of junior college in 2018. In his two seasons at ASU, Aiyuk had 98 receptions, 1,666 yards and 11 touchdowns. He broke out his senior year to lead to him becoming a first-round selection in 2020.
Just getting started, promise that.. pic.twitter.com/7xHMg7GmOP
— BA (@THE2ERA) January 28, 2020
Former Sun Devil wide receiver and Phoenix native Ricky Pearsall, who played for ASU from 2019-21 and eventually transferred to Florida, could be in line for more opportunities with Aiyuk out. The first-round rookie made his season debut on Sunday after being shot in the chest this offseason.
San Francisco does not play Arizona again until both teams’ final game of the regular season in Week 18.
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Brendan Mau is a senior writer covering the Phoenix Suns and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on X via @Brendan_Mau
