49ers fear Aiyuk suffered ACL injury
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk was carted to the locker room during Sunday's 28-18 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs after taking a hit to his right knee late in the second quarter.
He was officially ruled out for the remainder of the contest early in the third quarter. Aiyuk was down on the field but was able to walk to the blue medical tent before eventually being taken to the locker room.
49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said postgame the club is worried Aiyuk injured his ACL, according to Lindsey Thiry of ESPN.
Brandon Aiyuk is headed into the blue tent. pic.twitter.com/VS8zAnkQYW
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) October 20, 2024
The 26-year-old, who signed a four-year, $120-million extension this past offseason, caught two passes for 23 yards before exiting.
San Francisco finished Week 7 without its top three receivers. In addition to Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel headed to the locker room in the first half. It was announced pregame that he was dealing with an illness, but the versatile wideout was active to start the game. He was officially ruled out in the third quarter.
The 49ers were also missing Jauan Jennings, who was inactive due to a hip injury. Shanahan hopes to get Jennings back this week, according to Matt Barrows of The Athletic.
Sunday's contest marked receiver Ricky Pearsall's NFL debut, as the first-round rookie missed the season's first six games after being shot during an attempted robbery Aug. 31. Pearsall caught three passes for 21 yards.
Tight end George Kittle stepped up with the Niners shorthanded at wide receiver, finishing the loss with six receptions for 92 yards.
San Francisco faces the Dallas Cowboys in Week 8 before going on a bye.