The San Francisco 49ers suffered a significant setback in their 28-18 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. This defeat not only came against the team that beat them in last season’s Super Bowl but also dropped the 49ers’ record to 3-4.
Adding to their troubles, star wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk left the game in the second quarter with a knee injury. According to NFL Media, head coach Kyle Shanahan revealed that the team fears Aiyuk may have sustained an ACL injury.
Aiyuk is scheduled to undergo further tests on Monday, but the initial outlook suggests he might miss the remainder of the season.
If Aiyuk is indeed out, the 49ers will likely need to seek additional pass-catching options before the trade deadline, especially with their leading receiver, Jauan Jennings, already sidelined in Week 7 due to a hip injury.
With a challenging schedule ahead, the 49ers’ offense, led by third-year quarterback Brock Purdy, could benefit from more playmakers. They are set to face the 3-3 Dallas Cowboys in Week 8, followed by matchups against the 4-2 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 4-3 Seattle Seahawks, 5-2 Green Bay Packers, 5-2 Buffalo Bills, and 4-2 Chicago Bears through early December. The situation could become difficult for San Francisco if they don’t secure some crucial wins.
One potential trade target to strengthen their offense is wide receiver Mike Williams from the New York Jets. The Jets are open to offers for Williams after acquiring Davante Adams in Week 7.
Williams signed a one-year, $10 million contract during the offseason. With $55 million in available cap space, the 49ers could easily afford to take on his salary, likely needing to offer a late-round draft pick (around sixth-round value) to make the deal happen.
Williams, a former first-round pick for the Los Angeles Chargers, hasn’t been heavily utilized by the Jets, recording just one catch on two targets for 15 yards in their 37-15 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday night. So far this season, Williams has only 11 receptions for 160 yards.
Although he was limited to three games last season due to an ACL injury, the 30-year-old receiver was a key contributor for Justin Herbert and the Chargers during 2021 and much of 2022.
With 320 receptions, 4,966 yards, and 31 touchdowns over his eight-year NFL career, Williams could be a valuable target for Purdy. His addition might help the 49ers stay competitive in their push for a playoff spot as the season progresses.
