San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk is likely to start the season on the PUP list, according to 49ers insider Matt Maiocco. Aiyuk tore his ACL and MCL in week 7 last season, which ended his season. If confirmed, Aiyuk will miss at least the first four games of the season as his new $120 million deal begins with a setback. Ensuring Aiyuk returns at 100% will certainly be the team’s priority heading into the season.
49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk Likely To Start Season On Physically Unable to Perform List
Aiyuk Career Stats
The 49ers selected Aiyuk in the first round of the 2020 NFL draft. Since then, the 27-year-old has progressed in each year, exceeding 1000 receiving yards twice. Aiyuk accomplished this with a loaded receiving room that already featured Deebo Samuel and George Kittle, who were the team’s primary targets. In 2023, he posted a career-high in receiving yards with 1,342 and had an impressive seven touchdowns. With Samuel now out of the picture due to a trade this offseason that sent him to the Washington Commanders, Aiyuk, when healthy, is in line to be the alpha receiver of the group easing pressure on Kittle and Jauan Jennings.
Recovery Outlook For ACL Injuries
Aiyuk’s injury comes at an unfortunate time with his four-year, $120 million contract extension officially kicking in this season. While the deal reflects the 49ers long-term belief in Aiyuk as a true WR1 it also raises concerns. For NFL players in particular, recovering from an ACL tear does not guarantee a return to normal form. The Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine published a study in 2022 that examined athletes who sustained ACL injuries from 2013 to 2018. Only 28.5% of them were still playing in the NFL three years later, and only 55.8% of them returned to play. It’s still a bit concerning for a wide receiver coming off an ACL injury. The position depends heavily on sharp cuts and acceleration. These traits can take time to fully return to normal form despite the injury being a 9-12 month recovery. Even if physically cleared, players can be a bit hesitant to make sudden moves or plant aggressively early in their comeback. The 49ers will likely take a cautious approach to their star receivers recovery, especially after the contract extension.
Who Will Step Up with Brandon Aiyuk Likely Starting the Season on PUP List?
The 49ers will certainly feel the impact of losing Aiyuk for the first 4 games. Players placed on the reserve/PUP list before the start of the season are required to miss a minimum of four games. Aiyuk is not only a key piece of the offense but one of the smoothest route runners in the game. With that being said, the 49ers still have Jauan Jennings who is arguably the most underrated receiver in football. Jennings constantly finds soft spots in coverage and has built great chemistry with quarterback Brock Purdy. On the other hand, they also have former first-round pick Ricky Pearsall. Pearsall is poised to take a big stride entering his second year in the NFL. And of course, star tight end George Kittle is still a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses. That level of depth should help the 49ers offense navigate the first month without Aiyuk.
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