Shanahan recalls phone conversation with ‘bummed’ Aiyuk after injury originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers are there for Brandon Aiyuk after the wide receiver tore his right ACL and MCL in San Francisco’s 28-18 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday at Levi’s Stadium.
After tests confirmed Aiyuk in fact had suffered a season-ending injury, the 49ers coach spoke to his player to offer his support.
“I talked with him last night, just calling him at his house,” Shanahan told reporters Monday via conference call. “I haven’t seen him today. But he was hurting, just bummed out. Exactly how you’d expect. But [Aiyuk] is a strong dude and a spiritual guy and believes everything happens for a reason, so he’ll be all right.
“But definitely a little down last night, and I was just telling him how bad I felt for him and just let him know we’re all here for him through this.”
Aiyuk’s devastating injury comes after his lengthy training camp “hold in” this summer, which ended with him signing a four-year, $120 million contract extension. In seven 2024 NFL season games so far, Aiyuk had caught 25 passes for 374 yards and no touchdowns.
It was the 49ers’ hope that Aiyuk would only continue to improve as the season wore on after missing all of training camp, but now they’ll have to go the rest of their campaign without him. After Shanahan confirmed news of Aiyuk’s torn knee ligaments, fellow 49ers wideout Deebo Samuel shared a promise to his teammate on social media.
Samuel, Shanahan, the 49ers and the Faithful certainly are wishing Aiyuk a speedy recovery.
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