Is Brandon Aiyuk playing Thursday night? Latest Week 3 injury updates for 49ers vs. Giants

Brandon Aiyuk played through a shoulder injury in the 49ers' win over the Rams, but his availability for Thursday Night Football might be up in the air.

The New York Giants are already going to be without their top offensive weapon, running back Saquon Barkley (ankle), when they visit the San Francisco 49ers for Week 3's installment of Thursday Night Football.

Yet the Niners are hoping they won't be without their leading receiver, wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, for the same contest.

Aiyuk played through a shoulder injury suffered at some point either before or during the Niners' Week 2 road victory over the Los Angeles Rams last Sunday. Early in the contest, he was actually helped up off the turf and required attention on the sideline, eventually returning to the action and finishing with three catches for 43 yards on six targets.

After the game, head coach Kyle Shanahan pointed out the shoulder injury and how Aiyuk played through it, finishing by saying, "I think he'll be alright."

Read more: Brandon Aiyuk shoulder injury is of concern on a short week for 49ers

It would be one thing if San Francisco had a normal schedule after the victory in LA, thereby allowing Aiyuk the maximum amount of recovery time without missing game action.

But it's a very short week for the 49ers, casting doubt on Aiyuk's availability.

Will 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk play on Thursday Night Football vs. Giants?

The Niners host the New York Giants on Thursday Night Football this week, meaning there are only three days for rest and preparation between Sunday and the primetime showdown at Levi's Stadium.

That'll cut into Aiyuk's recovery period by a significant amount.

The wideout already didn't practice on Monday, although teams typically conduct light practices and walkthroughs in weeks prior to Thursday night games.

But, according to Jack Hammer of the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, an CT scan on Monday revealed no bone breaks or fractures, and the ability of Aiyuk to play will hinge on his pain threshold:

Related story: 49ers vs. Giants: Game time, location, how to watch Week 3 on Thursday night

Based on this evidence, Aiyuk is likely going to be a game-time decision, probably depending on how ready he is during team warmups prior to kickoff.

Leaning one way or another, it seems as if Aiyuk will be ready to play, although Shanahan may clarify that after Wednesday practice. Yet the head coach probably will try limiting Aiyuk's snaps during the contest to help mitigate both the pain and risk of further injury.

UPDATE: According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, reporting on Thursday afternoon, Aiyuk isn't expected to play after all:

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