NFL Injury Report: 49ers’ Aiyuk Out for Season, Samuel Hospitalized, Bucs’ Receivers Face Setbacks
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49ers receiver Brandon Aiyuk leaves the field after suffering an injury against the Kansas City Chiefs. Eakin Howard/AP
Injuries can dramatically shape the landscape of an NFL season, and this year, several teams are feeling the impact more acutely than others. The San Francisco 49ers, in particular, are grappling with a potential injury crisis following significant setbacks to key players.
On Monday, the 49ers confirmed that star wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk has torn both his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and medial collateral ligament (MCL), ruling him out for the remainder of the season. The injury occurred during the team’s 28-18 loss to the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs in Week 7, which dropped the 49ers to a disappointing 3-4 record. This game served as a rematch of February’s Super Bowl LVIII, where the Chiefs claimed their second consecutive Vince Lombardi Trophy.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan had expressed concerns immediately after the game, fearing Aiyuk’s injury was serious. On Monday, he confirmed the diagnosis. “I talked with him last night and called him at his house,” Shanahan shared with reporters. “I haven’t seen him today, but he was hurting and just bummed out, as you’d expect. BA is a strong dude and a spiritual guy, and he believes everything happens for a reason. So, he’ll be all right, but he was definitely down last night. I just told him how bad I felt for him and that we’re all here for him.”
The injury news didn’t stop there for the 49ers. They also announced that Deebo Samuel, a former first-team All-Pro receiver, has been hospitalized with pneumonia and is dealing with fluid in his lungs. Samuel only played four snaps against the Chiefs and did not record any stats before exiting the game. Shanahan noted postgame that Samuel had difficulty breathing during the matchup.
The uncertainty surrounding Samuel’s availability for the upcoming primetime game against the Dallas Cowboys adds to the growing list of concerns for the 49ers. The team is already without superstar running back Christian McCaffrey, who remains on injured reserve and has yet to play this season. Additionally, receiver Jauan Jennings missed the game against Kansas City, while tight end George Kittle is nursing a sprained foot and is currently considered day-to-day. Rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall, who recently returned from a shooting incident that left him injured, may find himself elevated in the depth chart amid this injury turmoil.
The 49ers are not alone in facing a multitude of injuries this week. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers experienced their own challenges during Monday night’s 41-31 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, falling to a 4-3 record. Their top two receivers both left the game due to injury, creating significant concern for the team moving forward.
Five-time Pro Bowler Mike Evans injured his right hamstring after an incomplete pass in the second quarter and was promptly ruled out for the remainder of the contest. Unfortunately, things deteriorated for the Buccaneers in the final minute of the game. While attempting to make a play, Chris Godwin caught a pass from quarterback Baker Mayfield but was tackled hard by Baltimore’s Roquan Smith. Godwin remained on the ground and was eventually carted off, prompting concern from teammates and fans alike.
Postgame, head coach Todd Bowles provided an update on Godwin’s condition, stating, “He’s got an ankle injury; early indications are that it’s dislocated. It doesn’t look good.” Quarterback Baker Mayfield expressed his dismay, saying, “It absolutely sucks. It sucks for our team, but Chris deserves better than that. He’s an unbelievable guy and teammate. He’s been playing extraordinary this year … got a heavy heart right now.”
As Tampa Bay looks ahead to their Week 8 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons, they await further assessments on both Evans and Godwin’s injuries. The situation underscores the ever-present threat injuries pose in the NFL, especially for teams like the 49ers and Buccaneers, who are navigating critical points in their seasons. With a playoff push on the horizon, both teams will need to rally and adapt in the face of adversity.
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