In a devastating blow to the struggling San Francisco 49ers, star receiver Brandon Aiyuk is set to miss the remainder of the 2024 season due to a knee injury. Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz broke the news on Monday, revealing that an MRI confirmed Aiyuk’s worst fears following the 49ers’ 28-18 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Aiyuk’s season-long absence comes after a tumultuous summer where he held out of training camp in search of a new contract extension. Ultimately, he inked a lucrative four-year, $120 million deal in late August. Despite this big payday, Aiyuk struggled on the field, failing to surpass 48 receiving yards in six of the team’s seven games before the injury struck.
With Aiyuk sidelined, the 49ers will look to Deebo Samuel, Jauan Jennings, and rookie Ricky Pearsall to step up and fill the void left by the star wideout. The pressure is on this trio to deliver in Aiyuk’s absence and help turn around the team’s fortunes.
San Francisco, once considered NFC favorites, find themselves in a tailspin after dropping four of their last six games. The team’s hopes for a successful season now rest on the ability of their remaining receivers to elevate their game and keep the team in playoff contention.
