The 49ers hope to get Jauan Jennings back this week; Deebo Samuel's illness explained

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The biggest concern after Sunday's loss to the Kansas City Chiefs – aside from the San Francisco 49ers falling to 3-4 on the season – is the likely season-ending injury to wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. It is feared that Aiyuk has torn his cruciate ligament. The injury occurred late in the first half after a severe blow following a catch and was carried to the locker room.

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The 49ers were already without wide receiver Jauan Jennings, who was sidelined with a hip injury, and Deebo Samuel, who was expected to be a key contributor but woke up with an illness. Samuel tried to play through the illness but couldn't finish the game.

“Sore throat, stomach, just really tired,” head coach Kyle Shanahan said of Samuel’s illness. “He found it difficult to breathe, he couldn't catch his breath. So he kept trying to fight through it, but when he had trouble breathing and everything, we had to shut him down.”

The return of Ricky Pearsall provided a slight boost, but the absence of the team's three best receivers was keenly felt throughout the game. The good news is that Jennings is expected to return for the Week 8 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys.

“I really hope to get him back this week,” Shanahan said.

The 49ers will likely move forward without their highest-paid wideout and rely on Samuel, Jennings and now Pearsall to step up in Aiyuk's absence. Aside from a 147-yard performance in Week 5 against the Arizona Cardinals, Aiyuk has struggled to live up to the expectations of his new contract this season, failing to score a touchdown.

Quarterback Brock Purdy expressed disappointment over Aiyuk's injury and expressed concern for his teammate.

“Obviously it's sad what BA does for our offense and who he is and as a teammate and brother of ours,” Purdy admitted. “I wish him nothing but the best and am praying for him. That's my type. Of course, if he goes down like that, we have other people who can step up and do their jobs really well.”

Purdy added: “We just need to all come together as a group, together, as a receiving unit and all of us. The boys just have to compete and they have. Unfortunately, that’s the nature of sport.”

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