The San Francisco 49ers’ offense has absorbed more than its share of hits this summer, but none looms larger than the absence of Brandon Aiyuk. For weeks, fans have wondered whether their Pro Bowl wideout would be ready for the season opener. The answer is in, and it isn’t the one they were hoping for.
What Happened to Brandon Aiyuk?
Aiyuk’s setback traces back to last season, when he suffered a torn ACL and MCL in Week 7 against the Kansas City Chiefs. His good run was abruptly cut short, and his recovery has since become one of the franchise’s most closely watched storylines.
San Francisco general manager John Lynch reflected on the process. “Brandon’s done a really good job,” Lynch said. “I’ve talked, throughout the process, he had a lot that went on during that injury. … I think a lot of people remember that hit, and it was vicious. You could see, like, ‘Oh, no, we might be in trouble.’ And sure enough, we were.”
Since then, Aiyuk has been rehabbing while staying around the team at camp. The seriousness of the injury always suggested a lengthy timetable, and the organization knew his availability for Week 1 was unlikely.
Brandon Aiyuk Injury Update: Timeline for His Potential Return
The latest update from Lynch confirms that Aiyuk will not be available to start the season. “He’s recovered well,” Lynch explained. “I think we feel comfortable saying he’s not going to be there Week 1, and then, it will probably be some time after that.”
San Francisco has placed him on the physically unable to perform list, which rules him out for at least the first four games. With a short turnaround in Week 5 against the Rams, Week 6 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Oct. 12 has emerged as the earliest realistic target date.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan set expectations with a cautious range. “I always see ’em around Week 6, which means that could be Week 10, it means it could be Week 5, but that’s the area where I start thinking about it,” he said.
Lynch underscored the need for patience. “I’m not going to put exact timelines,” he added, “but hopefully, sometime in this season, he’s playing the type of football we know, when he’s out there, that he is expected to, and expects himself to play at. And it’ll be a big boost to our team.”
The 49ers’ depth at wide receiver is already being tested, with Jauan Jennings, Jacob Cowing, and rookie Jordan Watkins all missing time in August, leaving Ricky Pearsall and other healthy receivers carrying the load.
For now, San Francisco must survive September without its top target. Aiyuk’s projected mid-October return is circled on the calendar, and how quickly he regains form could determine whether the 49ers remain among the NFC’s elite when the playoff race heats up.