49ers receiver Brandon Aiyuk injured his shoulder in Week 2 and is unlikely to play in Week 3 on Thursday against the Giants. Photo Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports Sep 10, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receivers Deebo Samuel (19) and Brandon Aiyuk (11) take the field against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

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.”

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.

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.

[Adam Schefter]

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