Leading up to Thursday night’s game between the New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers, most of the injury news has related to the Giants. But hours before the game, unfortunate 49ers injury news was revealed.
Brandon Aiyuk, who’s been San Francisco’s top receiving option through the first two games of the season, has been nursing a shoulder injury sustained during the team’s Week 2 win over the Los Angeles Rams.
Officially, Aiyuk is listed as questionable for Thursday’s game. But shortly before the game ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Aiyuk is “not expected to play.”
49ers’ WR Brandon Aiyuk, listed as questionable for tonight’s game due to a shoulder injury, is not expected to play vs. the Giants, per league source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 21, 2023
Aiyuk’s 11 receptions are tied with Deebo Samuel for the team lead. His 172 receiving yards and two touchdowns, meanwhile, both lead the team. In fact, Aiyuk’s two touchdown receptions are the only ones the 49ers have recorded this season, with all other scores coming on the ground.
Naturally, people had a strong reaction to his injury update.
Good let him rest. No need to push it. https://t.co/H10HKZrjGb
— Evan Sowards (@EvanSowards) September 21, 2023
Feels like the right move https://t.co/ARRbjS8TsZ
— Tracy Sandler (@TracyFGSN) September 21, 2023
No Brandon Aiyuk. Good move by the #49ers.#49wz https://t.co/5sL4zxsmIN
— Rohan Chakravarthi (@RohanChakrav) September 21, 2023
Shows how tough Aiyuk was to gut it out against the Rams when it was clear to anyone watching that he got hurt on his first catch. https://t.co/yhMfxHChQo
— Steve Berman (@BASportsGuy) September 21, 2023
Nice of San Fran to sit one of their 20 pro bowlers tonight 😂 https://t.co/uMQSKAYv1o
— Aaron Gershon (@agershon99) September 21, 2023
Huge news. https://t.co/aVwMEugbHv
— 𝙅𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙨 (@BrianDabollMVP) September 21, 2023
It’s hard to dispute the notion that this is the right move. San Francisco’s 2-0 start gives room for caution. Giving Aiyuk an extra 10 days to heal before the Week 4 game against the Arizona Cardinals is the sensible decision.
Certainly nobody is going to feel sorry for the 49ers. This is especially true with the Giants, who will be without running back Saquon Barkley as well as two starting offensive linemen, left guard Ben Bredeson and left tackle Andrew Thomas.
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