Aiyuk, Williams out for SF finale
Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk and left tackle Trent Williams, arguably the 49ers’ best offensive players this season, won’t play in Sunday’s season finale against Seattle because of injuries.
Aiyuk’s rookie year is over because of a high ankle sprain, the 49ers’ most common injury this season and one that Aiyuk played through in Saturday’s win over Arizona.
Williams sprained an elbow while blocking on the 49ers’ first touchdown drive in Saturday’s 2012 win at Arizona. He won’t require surgery for it as he’s slated for free agency for the first time in his 10-year career.
Cornerback Richard Sherman (calf), wide receiver Deebo Samuel (hamstring) and defensive end Jordan Willis (high ankle sprain) are also out for the season finale, as is likely quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, barring an unexpected clearance from team medical officials.
C. J. Beathard will make a second straight start at quarterback, and the 49ers will decide later this week if Josh Johnson can come off
the COVID-19 reserve list to serve as his backup, otherwise it will again be Josh Rosen.
MORE ON AIYUK » This will be the fourth game missed by Aiyuk in a still highly productive rookie season: 60 receptions (second-most by a 49ers rookie) for 748 yards (third most) and five touchdowns, plus two rushing touchdowns.
He missed two games for two separate stints on COVID-19 reserve, and he skipped the opener with a hamstring strain. Shanahan said Aiyuk got hurt on Saturday’s third snap — a low pass that went off his hands — but had his ankle taped. It swelled up enough since then to alert Shanahan on Monday that he won’t play the finale.
“I was really happy with Aiyuk,” coach Kyle Shanahan said Monday in a media video conference. “Obviously we’d do it (draft him in the first round) all over again if we had a chance. I am real excited about him going into Year 2, and just talking to him before (Saturday’s) game, just understanding what the expectations are for him.
“He’s here for a reason, and it’s to really help us out, which he did this year. Both he and Deebo got their rookie years out of the way.”
Samuel, the 49ers’ other starting wide receiver, had 33 catches for 391 yards and one touchdown in seven games. He’s battled foot and hamstring injuries, plus he missed one game on COVID-19 reserve as a precautionary measure.
HEALTH CENTER » Other injuries the 49ers are watching: defensive linemen Javon Kinlaw ( knee swelling), Dion Jordan ( knee); cornerbacks Jimmie Ward (concussion) and K’Waun Williams (shin); offensive lineman Justin Skule ( knee); safety Tarvarius Moore (ankle); and running back Jeff Wilson (nerve stinger).
COVID UPDATE » Long snapper Taybor Pepper and offensive linemen Hroniss Grasu went on the NFL’s COVID-19 reserve list, Grasu’s second time this season. Activated off it were running back Austin Walter and practice squad fullback Josh Hokit.