The 49ers open 2024 training camp with Brandon Aiyuk & Ricky Pearsall on the PUP list. Get the latest on the 8 injured players threatening their season.
StatPro NFL Beat Reporter
Just when you thought the San Francisco 49ers were set for a smooth ride into training camp, the injury bug and contract drama have thrown a major wrench into the plans. The doors to Santa Clara are barely open, and already the team's wide receiver room is in a state of flux, raising immediate questions about an offense expected to once again be among the league's elite.
Eight players will begin training camp on injury lists, including the team's top returning receiver, Brandon Aiyuk, and their 2025 first-round draft pick, Ricky Pearsall.
The 49ers officially placed a whopping eight players on injury lists to start camp, but the headliners are the ones that sting the most. Brandon Aiyuk's placement on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list wasn't a total shock as he recovers from the devastating ACL and MCL injuries he suffered in Week 7 last season, but it confirms his status for the regular season opener is very much in doubt. More concerning is the addition of first-round pick Ricky Pearsall to the same list. After a hamstring issue limited him in OTAs, a setback has now sidelined the rookie who was expected to absorb major reps. They're joined on the PUP list by DE Yetur Gross-Matos and S Malik Mustapha. Meanwhile, potential starting left guard Ben Bartch landed on the Non-Football Injury (NFI) list, creating a hole on the offensive line. The lone bright spot? Safety Ji'Ayir Brown is officially cleared to practice following his offseason ankle procedure.
As if having your top two receivers (outside of Deebo Samuel) on the shelf wasn't enough, news broke that Jauan Jennings is reportedly unhappy with his contract. 'Third-and-Jauan' signed a two-year, $15.39 million extension in the spring of 2024, but it appears he's seeking a new deal. With Aiyuk and Pearsall out, Jennings' role becomes even more critical, giving him significant leverage. This adds a layer of potential camp drama the front office likely didn't anticipate, especially given its history of high-profile negotiations. The focus now shifts to how the team will manage a key player's discontent while his position group is already severely shorthanded.
The camp roster questions don't stop there. Second-round pick Alfred Collins, a defensive tackle from Texas expected to bolster the interior line, has yet to sign his rookie contract and did not report with the other rookies. While it's not time to panic—several second-rounders across the league remain unsigned due to contractual nuances—it's a situation to monitor closely with the first full-squad practice looming next week. In less surprising news, seventh-round quarterback Kurtis Rourke was also placed on the NFI list as he continues to recover from an ACL tear he played through last year.
The opening bell for training camp has sounded less like a celebration and more like an alarm. With the receiver room in flux and key players on both sides of the ball sidelined, the 'next man up' philosophy will be tested from day one. All eyes will be on Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch to navigate these early challenges and keep the team's Super Bowl aspirations firmly on track as veterans report next week.
