How Brandon Aiyuk's injury impacts 49ers' 2024 NFL deadline plan – NBC Sports Bay Area & California

The 49ers played most of Sunday's game without their top three wide receivers.

Deebo Samuel and Jauan Jennings are expected to be back on the field for at least the second half of the 2024 NFL season, while Brandon Aiyuk suffered a serious knee injury that will sideline him through the 2025 season.

The NFL trade deadline is Tuesday, Nov. 5, and 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said the organization will explore all options.

“You have to look at everything carefully,” Shanahan said Monday during a conference call with Bay Area reporters.

Samuel is currently in the hospital with pneumonia. Jennings was inactive for Sunday's game because of a hip injury. Aiyuk is out for the season after suffering tears to his ACL and MCL in a 28-18 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.

The 49ers hope to get Samuel and Jennings back in action sooner than later.

The 49ers' top three receivers for the second half of the season are Samuel, Jennings and rookie Ricky Pearsall, a first-round draft pick who made his NFL debut on Sunday.

Pearsall was inactive for the first six games of the season as he recovered from a shot to the chest sustained during an armed robbery.

The rest of the 49ers' depth chart at wide receiver consists of Chris Conley, Ronnie Bell and rookie Jacob Cowing.

“Obviously, with the other issues that came up yesterday, we're still investigating everything,” Shanahan said. “It depends on what options there are and what things we can implement that will help us now and not hurt us in the future.”

Last week saw significant movement at wide receiver in the NFL with two major trades.

The Buffalo Bills acquired wide receiver Amari Cooper and a sixth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft from the Cleveland Browns last week for a third-round pick in 2025 and a seventh-round pick in 2026.

The 49ers held offseason trade talks with the Browns about Cooper when Aiyuk's contract status was unclear, NBC Sports Bay Area reported.

The New York Jets secured backup for quarterback Aaron Rodgers by acquiring six-time Pro Bowl receiver Davante Adams from the Las Vegas Raiders for a conditional third-round pick in 2025.

The 49ers have been active in the last two trade deadlines with deals to acquire running back Christian McCaffrey and defensive end Chase Young.

But general manager John Lynch might be a little less likely to get a top receiver this year.

“A lot of times it’s just about living in hope,” Shanahan said. “The answers aren’t always out there. You have to be willing to make the people in your building better and deal with what you have in your building.

“If you find something that makes sense, we will never hesitate, but it is not always as available as you hope.”

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