Latest addition to 49ers injury report puts even more urgency on Brandon Aiyuk

It's bad enough the 49ers are without Christian McCaffrey, but they're now without Deebo Samuel, meaning Brandon Aiyuk has to pick up the slack.

The San Francisco 49ers' commanding Week 1 victory over the New York Jets almost seems like a lifetime ago.

In the wake of an ugly, disjointed road loss at the hands of the Minnesota Vikings, whatever feel-good sentiments Niners fans had entering the season have dwindled. Pair that with news on All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey being out indefinitely with Achilles tendonitis, and the feelings of another 2020-like season are growing.

And they're getting worse.

On Monday, head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters another one of his stars, wide receiver Deebo Samuel, suffered a calf strain late in the Vikings game and would miss some time.

Just like that, San Francisco is without two of its most dynamic and unique weapons.

Another weapon, wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, hasn't exactly made the most of his first two weeks of the season after signing his lucrative contract extension that's poised to pay him an annual average of $30 million per year.

Over the first two weeks, Aiyuk has six catches for 71 yards and no touchdowns. Not terrible for a tertiary weapon on a decent offense, but those figures aren't exactly indicative of a top-tier wide receiver, which Aiyuk is now paid to be.

Putting it bluntly, Aiyuk's slow start to the year has commanded some criticism.

With Samuel joining McCaffrey on the 49ers' injury list, Aiyuk will be under even more pressure to deliver.

Brandon Aiyuk has to be 49ers' key hero while Deebo Samuel is out

Aiyuk, the Niners' leading receiver from the last two seasons, developed a strong rapport with quarterback Brock Purdy over the course of 2023.

That connection hasn't exactly flourished early this year, albeit two games is hardly big enough a sample size to draw any logical conclusions.

Yet the sense of urgency has to be there. Especially if San Francisco wants to avoid getting off to a 1-2 start, or worse.

Fortunately, Aiyuk isn't going to have to do it all. Backup running back Jordan Mason has reached 100 yards rushing in each of the first two games, while third-tier wide receiver Jauan Jennings has produced. All-Pro tight end George Kittle is a key factor, too, while the 49ers defense remains mostly healthy and intact.

Plus, the Niners have two very winnable games over their next two weeks, the first coming against a banged-up Los Angeles Rams squad and then another against a rebuilding New England Patriots team, the combined records of both being 1-3 thus far.

Aiyuk needs to step it up, yes. But he has the context in which to do so.

Read more from Niner Noise