Latest Brandon Aiyuk injury updates confirm the worst for 49ers wide receiver

After suffering a brutal knee injury in the Week 7 loss to the Chiefs, Brandon Aiyuk's future is definitely one the 49ers didn't want.

The San Francisco 49ers' 28-18 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 7 highlighted plenty of painful truths for head coach Kyle Shanahan's squad.

Including one literal painful aspect: wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk's serious knee injury.

Aiyuk went down awkwardly on a tackle late in the first half, prompting an injury to his right knee that doesn't need to be seen more than once. Despite eventually walking off the field under his own power, albeit with a noticeable limp, the Niners' leading receiver from the previous two years had to be carted off to the locker room.

After the game, Shanahan told reporters he feared it was an ACL tear. Considering the on-field tests to determine the extent of such an injury are pretty accurate, it was safe to worry Aiyuk would be done for the year.

Aiyuk was scheduled for an MRI to confirm the extent of the damage.

Unfortunately, the news isn't good for both him and San Francisco.

MRI confirms the worst for Brandon Aiyuk, 49ers

On Monday, news reports revealed again to reporters that Aiyuk indeed tore his ACL and MCL, effectively ending his season that began with so much hype following the pass catcher's lucrative contract extension signed just prior to Week 1.

Granted, Aiyuk's 2024 campaign had been a disappointment up to his injury. Over seven games, the high-profile receiver had just 25 catches for 374 yards and zero touchdowns, making a massive impact in just one game -- Week 5 against the Arizona Cardinals with 147 receiving yards -- while also suffering a good deal of drops.

It wasn't hard to find both fans and analysts criticizing Aiyuk for his offseason "hold-in" that forced him to not partake in training camp, leading to the lackluster statistical start to 2024.

Now, Aiyuk will be required to spend the rest of the year in rehabilitation, aiming for 2025 as a point to fully bounce back and positively impact the 49ers offense.

As for the Niners, they'll be forced to look elsewhere for production, both in terms of the numbers and the on-field presence where Aiyuk was still a factor. Even if the efforts didn't always show up on the stat sheet.

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