49ers lose WR Aiyuk to ACL tear, sources say

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Less than 24 hours after wide receiver Brandon Ayuk injured his right knee against the Kansas City Chiefs, the San Francisco 49ers got the bad news they were hoping for.

Ayuk is suffering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee that will require surgery and will end his 2024 season after just seven games, a source confirmed to ESPN.

On Monday, the tests confirmed what Niners coach Kyle Shanahan was expecting Sunday night. After a 28-18 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, Shanahan said all signs pointed to an ACL but a closer look was still needed and the Niners were “praying” they were wrong.

Ayuk was injured with 48 seconds left in the second quarter. Quarterback Brock Purdy snagged a pass to Ayuk between Kansas City defensive backs Chamorry Conner and Trent McDuffie for a 15-yard gain. As Connor and McDuffie converge on Ayuk, his knee is seen to hyperextend.

Niners medical staff immediately ran onto the field to tend to Ayuk, who remained down for several minutes before slowly limping to the sideline and the blue medical tent. He was soon taken to the locker room on a cart and ruled out returning to the game to open the third quarter.

Ayuk had two catches for 23 yards during the injury in the midst of a relatively slow start to the season. As his season ended, Ayuck would not be able to reach 1,000 receiving yards for the third straight year. He had 75 receptions for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns en route to a second-team All-Pro nod last year.

The Niners signed Ayuk to a four-year, $120 million extension in August after an extended contract dispute. He finished the season with 25 catches for 374 yards and no scores.

Aiyuk's ACL key is the latest in an increasingly long list of injuries for the 49ers. Christian McCaffrey (Achilles tendinitis), linebacker Dre Greenlaw (torn Achilles), defensive tackle Javon Hargrave (torn triceps) and safety Talanoa Hufanga (torn ligament in his wrist) are among other key Niners who could miss significant time. .

“It's bad,” center Jake Brendel said Sunday. “Any injury to one of your weapons on offense or defense, it's just detrimental. I think as a roster, we just have to respond. Whoever's next on the roster has to step up and make sure there's no injury. On offense. Hazards and Productivity.”

The extent of Ayuk's injury was first reported by Fox Sports.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler contributed to this report.