SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Brock Purdy will be without his favorite target from the 2023 season after tests confirmed that Brandon Aiyuk suffered a torn ACL and MCL in the second quarter of the San Francisco 49ers’ Sunday loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, according to multiple reports.
Aiyuk, 26, led San Francisco with 1,342 receiving yards a year ago and his 51-yard grab after the ball deflected off an opponent’s helmet in the NFC Championship – the 49ers trailed the Detroit Lions 24-10 at the time – was perhaps the team’s most iconic moment of the season. Aiyuk parlayed last year’s numbers into a four-year, $120 million contract in the summer.
The negotiation process, however, was contentious and drawn out, with Aiyuk at one point asking to be traded to either the Pittsburgh Steelers or Washington Commanders. That didn’t sit well with the team’s fanbase, nor did Aiyuk’s sideline antics during training camp and his slow start to the season after the deal was finally consummated at the end of August.
He’s gone over 100 receiving yards just once this season — 147 yards in a Week 5 loss to the Arizona Cardinals — and his season ends without him scoring a touchdown. He also has three drops, including a big one against the Chiefs, after having just two all of last season. Aiyuk’s 374 receiving yards currently rank third on the team behind Jauan Jennings (404) and George Kittle (375).
With the trade deadline nearly two weeks away, Kyle Shanahan was asked after Sunday’s game if the 49ers will make a move at the position. In 2019, for example, they made a mid-season trade for veteran Emmanuel Sanders that seemed to energize their offense.
“I don’t know, it depends what’s available, depends on the risk and reward with everything,” he said. “We look into everything and every situation, but have to balance all that out.”
The 49ers still have plenty of weapons even without Aiyuk. Jennings (hip) and Deebo Samuel (illness) missed all or most of Sunday’s game but are expected back for the Week 8 contest against the Dallas Cowboys. Meanwhile, the 49ers are hoping to get running back Christian McCaffrey — who had 564 receiving yards last season – back at some point following the Week 9 bye.
The 49ers also got good production out of rookie receivers Ricky Pearsall and Jacob Cowing in the second half Sunday. Purdy targeted Pearsall four times in the half, the most of any pass catcher. Cowing, meanwhile, finished with 50 receiving yards on just eight routes run against the Chiefs.
This story will be updated.
(Photo: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
