On Sunday, October 20, Brandon Aiyuk, a star wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League, suffered a torn ACL and MCL in their loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, effectively ending his season. Week by week, it seems like the 49ers, who are 3-4 as of the end of week 7, fall out of Super Bowl contention week after week; their championship window closing inch by inch.
It all started with an injury to running back Christian McCaffrey. He suffered a torn achilles before the season began, and has been on the IR ever since. Although rookie Jordan Mason has been exceptional in his place, he is no Christian McCaffrey. Wide receiver Jauan Jennings leads the team in receiving yards, despite the talent they have at the position. They have lost to teams like the Rams and Cardinals, in embarrassing fashion.
In order to figure out why the 49ers are in this spot, we have to go back six years prior. In 2018, the 49ers finished 4-12, giving them one of the worst records in the NFC. A year later, thanks to key draft additions Nick Bosa and Deebo Samuel, the 49ers were in the Super Bowl. They stuck around, looking like contenders most of the time, but things are not looking good this year. For San Francisco, one of their big playmakers has to step up and play the best football of their lives for San Francisco to even make the playoffs.
This slow start is not all the team’s fault, however. Injuries, such as Brandon Aiyuk, of course, Christian McCaffrey, and even key defensive players such as safety Talanoa Hufanga and Dre Greenlaw. Greenlaw, 27, sealed the 49ers NFC divisional round matchup last year with his interception of quarterback Jordan Love of the Green Bay Packers. He is a staple of their defense and one of the most underrated linebackers in the league.
Hufanga, 24, is one of the league’s best young defensive players, but the Pro Bowler may not return this year.
The season is nowhere near over for San Francisco. If their key playmakers step up, this team is easily a contender again, as they have been the past 4 years. They do not need to acquire anyone. Rather, they must perform like they know they can. They must perform like the team that has rivaled the Chiefs dynasty since 2019.
Some people believe that some players are on the decline. That couldn’t be further from the truth. It may be true for some players, like McCaffrey and 31 year old George Kittle, most of their team is approaching or in the prime of their career. Their wideouts, Aiyuk and Samuel, are 26 and 28 respectively. Linebacker Fred Warner, the captain and heart of the defense, is only 27 and playing his best football. Even Cornerback Charvarius Ward is 28 and led the league in pass deflections last year. It comes down to this: will they lock in, or waste their prime years?
