For the San Francisco 49ers, putting together a successful NFL season will largely depend on solid preparation in the lead-up. Unfortunately for quarterback Brock Purdy, he won’t be able to start training camp with two of his key offensive weapons available.
In the latest update, the franchise released its list of players on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list, which includes wide receivers Brandon Aiyuk and Ricky Pearsall—both currently recovering from injuries.
Despite these key absences at this stage of training camp, the good news for head coach Kyle Shanahan is that any of the players currently on the PUP list can be activated at any point once they are medically cleared.
In addition to the two wide receivers, four other players were also included on the PUP list: Andre Dillard, Yetur Gross-Matos, Malik Mustapha, and Curtis Robinson. Meanwhile, Ben Bartch and George Odum have been placed on the Active/Non-Football Injury list.
Brandon Aiyuk eyes a strong comeback
Returning from a challenging season, 27-year-old Brandon Aiyuk aims for a strong comeback. Last year saw his campaign cut short dramatically, as he participated in just seven games. His performance was limited to 25 receptions for 374 yards before a significant injury altered his trajectory.
Aiyuk’s 2024 season came to an abrupt halt on October 20th during a pivotal matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs. In that game, he suffered a severe ACL and MCL tear, an injury that sidelined him for the remainder of the year and required extensive rehabilitation.
Early challenges for the 49ers
With the clear goal of having Kyle Shanahan and the rest of the San Francisco roster emerge as contenders from day one, the 49ers will need to navigate their first five matchups successfully if they hope to start the upcoming season on the right foot.
- @ Seattle Seahawks, September 7th – Lumen Field
- @ New Orleans Saints, September 14th – Caesars Superdome
- vs Arizona Cardinals, September 21st
- vs Jacksonville Jaguars, September 28th
- @ Los Angeles Rams, October 2nd – SoFi Stadium
SURVEY Can the 49ers be contenders next season?
Can the 49ers be contenders next season?
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