The San Francisco 49ers are now without both of their top two wide receivers with another half to play against the Kansas City Chiefs. Brandon Aiyuk was ruled out of Sunday’s game after suffering a knee injury in the second quarter. Deebo Samuel rushed to the locker room after reporting an illness before kickoff, then returned to the sideline in street clothes.
Aiyuk took a shot to his leg on just his second catch of the afternoon — a 15-yard reception on the 49ers’ final drive before halftime. Training staff helped Aiyuk off the field and into the blue medical tent. Upon exiting, Aiyuk was carted off the field and into the locker room, pointing to his right knee while being taken out.
Brandon Aiyuk was carted off the field after sustaining a leg injury. pic.twitter.com/QKZjoBOuOG
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) October 20, 2024
Samuel reported his illness prior to kickoff. He never received a target before running to the locker room in the second quarter. While the team initially listed Samuel as questionable, Samuel left the locker room and returned to the sideline in street clothes. He was ruled out shortly thereafter.
The 49ers are already thin at receiver Sunday. Jauan Jennings was ruled out prior to the game with a hip injury. At the moment, San Francisco’s two wide receivers are both rookies. Jacob Cowing and Ricky Pearsall, the 49ers’ first-round pick making his season debut after being shot in the chest in August, are the only 49ers wide receivers along with Aiyuk with receptions in the game.
49ers struggling to field receivers
The 49ers may have to play the second half without their Top 3 wideouts after Aiyuk suffered a knee injury late in the second quarter. That would leave the team with Chris Conley, Ronnie Bell, Cowing and Pearsall at receiver. Cowing and Pearsall are rookies, and Pearsall only returned to practice last week after a month and a half absence. Cowing and Pearsall have good speed, and the 49ers could run some designed plays – screens and end arounds – with Cowing. However, Brock Purdy doesn’t have a lot of chemistry with that group and already seemed off kilter to start the game. — Matt Barrows, 49ers beat reporter
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(Photo: Ezra Shaw / Getty Images)
