Brandon Aiyuk’s 2024 season was supposed to be about reaffirming his deserving status as one of the highest-paid wide receivers in the NFL. But Aiyuk got off to a slow start, and was never able to rebound after suffering a season-ending torn ACL and MCL after just seven games.

We look ahead to Aiyuk’s prospects and contract status moving forward, as well as where the 49ers go from here.

How Did Brandon Aiyuk Get Injured?

Aiyuk took a hit to his midsection and right leg after catching a 15-yard pass with 48 seconds remaining in the second quarter.

His right leg bent back awkwardly after he was tackled by Chiefs defensive back Chamarri Conner. You can see the play where Aiyuk was injured in the video below.

Aiyuk stayed down on the field before eventually walking off with a noticeable limp. He spent time in the blue medical tent along San Francisco’s sideline before being carted to the 49ers’ locker room.

The day after the game, an MRI confirmed that Aiyuk tore both his ACL and MCL, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Aiyuk may have also suffered other damage and could be facing a “long road back” in 2025.

Although Aiyuk has been relatively quiet in 2024 (aside from an 8-147 line in Week 5), he was outstanding for the 49ers last season.

The former first-round pick blossomed into a legitimate WR1 in 2023, earning second-team All-Pro honors while finishing second in yards per reception (17.9) and seventh in receiving yards (1,342). Few pass catchers rivaled Aiyuk’s efficiency; he joined Tyreek Hill and Nico Collins as the only wideouts with 3+ yards per route run in 2023.

SEE MORE: NFL Injury Report

What is Brandon Aiyuk’s Contract Status?

Aiyuk staged a hold-in for most of the 2024 offseason, declining to participate in training camp and the preseason until agreeing to a four-year, $120 million contract extension on Aug. 30.

The deal included $45 million in full guarantees and made Aiyuk the NFL’s sixth-highest-paid wide receiver by annual average value.

Here’s a breakdown of Aiyuk’s salary cap numbers over the remainder of his contract. As a reminder, the deal doesn’t kick in until next season:

• 2025: $11.2 million
• 2026: $16.2 million
• 2027: $44.3 million
• 2028: $44.2 million

The first year the 49ers can save money by cutting Aiyuk would be after the 2027 season when his dead cap hit would drop to $9.2 million.

Of the course, the Niners will hope it doesn’t come to that point. Aiyuk posted just 25 receptions for 374 yards and no touchdowns in 2024, all career-lows. Even on a per-game basis, his 53.4 receiving yards per game were the second-fewest of his career, and his 53.2% catch rate was a career-low.

Will the 49ers Trade for a Wide Receiver?

While Aiyuk moves on to 2025, the 49ers still have to cover up the void and make it through the res tof the 2024 season.

Contending teams like the Buffalo Bills (Amari Cooper) and New York Jets (Davante Adams) made trades for wide receivers last week. Could the 49ers follow suit before the NFL’s Nov. 5 trade deadline?

Salary cap space won’t be an issue if San Francisco wants to pursue a WR via trade. The 49ers led the league with $55+ million in available cap space entering Week 8. Shanahan and general manager John Lynch and Shanahan can afford to add any pass catcher they think might help this season.

Who could the 49ers target? Although Cooper and Adams are off the market, plenty of talented wideouts have been mentioned in trade rumors. Wide receivers like Diontae Johnson (Carolina Panthers), Christian Kirk (Jacksonville Jaguars), and DeAndre Hopkins (Tennessee Titans) could theoretically interest San Francisco.

On the other hand, Samuel and Jennings aren’t facing extended absences, while RB Christian McCaffrey (Achilles tendinitis) could return within the next few weeks. Shanahan might believe he can scheme enough offense to replace Aiyuk when those options come back. But wide receivers should be available on the trade block if the 49ers are intrigued.

Fantasy Implications of Aiyuk’s Injury

Aiyuk has had an up-and-down season after a contract holdout cost him much of training camp, but the general thought was that he’d turned a corner and was ready to be a consistent producer for one of the most efficient offenses in the sport.

This injury could set that back a bit and would lock in Kittle as the TE1 moving forward. Samuel is battling an illness, and with the bye looming (Week 9), we could see a skeleton version of this team next week against the Dallas Cowboys.

Pearsall made his debut today and is a deep league stash at best, but his stock is minimal, especially if Jennings is deemed healthy sooner rather than later.

With these injuries, Purdy will struggle to project as a fantasy starter in the short term.