Brandon Aiyuk’s season is over.
The San Francisco 49ers suffered a season-ending knee injury in 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 may be other damage to his knee. He will be operated on in the near future.
#49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk does, in fact, have a torn ACL and MCL, according to sources after the MRI. There may be other damage.
Their season is over, with a long road back until 2025. This is what coach Kyle Shanahan and SF believed after the game. pic.twitter.com/Ju5nxlgDLC
-Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 21, 2024
Aiyuk caught a pass down the middle of the field late in the first half of Sunday’s game at Levi’s Stadium, but his knee buckled sharply when he was hit and knocked down. Ayiuk remained in the field for quite some time before finally leaving and entering the medical tent. They finally took him to the locker room and ruled him out of the game.
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 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 contract to remain in San Francisco.
Aiyuk will finish the season with 374 yards and no touchdowns on 25 receptions. All of those numbers are career lows for the 26-year-old, whom the 49ers first selected with the 25th overall pick in the 2020 draft out of Arizona State. Aiyuk had 1,342 yards and a career-high seven touchdowns last season while leading the 49ers to the Super Bowl.
Aiyuk’s injury is just the latest the 49ers offense has faced this season. Star running back Christian McCaffrey has yet to see the field as he deals 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 he was also shot in the chest earlier this fall.
The 49ers fell to 3-4 on the season after Sunday’s loss. They will host the Dallas Cowboys next week.