NFL Rumors: 49ers’ Brandon Aiyuk out for season; Injury diagnosed as torn ACL, MCL | News, scores, highlights, stats and rumors

The San Francisco 49ers had their worst fears confirmed on Monday.

According to Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports, tests showed that 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk suffered a season-ending knee injury during Sunday’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. It was initially feared he had suffered a torn ACL, head coach Kyle Shanahan said after the game. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that Aiyuk actually tore both his ACL and MCL.

Aiyuk’s teammate Deebo Samuel posted a message to him on Instagram after his diagnosis was announced:

The season-ending injury comes after a tumultuous summer that saw Aiyuk hold out all of training camp due to his desire for a new contract. He was rumored to be on the verge of being traded before finally agreeing to one four years, $120 million contract extension that made him one of the highest-paid receivers in the NFL.

Losing Aiyuk for the rest of the year leaves the 49ers without another key offensive player. San Francisco was without star running back Christian McCaffrey for the entire 2024 season due to bilateral Achilles tendonitis.

Without Aiyuk, the 49ers will rely on Samuel and George Kittle to lead the passing attack. However, Shanahan said Monday that Samuel is in the hospital with fluid in his lungs. Rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall, who was shot in the chest during an alleged robbery last summer, made his NFL debut in Sunday’s game.

After falling to 3-4 with the loss to Kansas City, San Francisco will look to bounce back when it faces the Dallas Cowboys (3-3) Sunday night football.