Oct 20, 2024; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (11) lays on the ground after suffering an injury against the Kansas City Chiefs in the second quarter at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images

49ers lose WRs Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel during loss to Chiefs

The San Francisco 49ers lost standout receivers Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel during Sunday’s 28-18 loss to the visiting Kansas City Chiefs.

Aiyuk was carted off with a right knee injury in the final minute of the first half. Samuel played briefly early in the game before exiting with an illness.

The 49ers also were without receiver Jauan Jennings, who didn’t practice all week and missed the game with a hip injury.

Aiyuk had two receptions for 23 yards before departing. He was injured when he caught a 15-yard pass and was hit by two Kansas City defenders, with the blow from Chamarri Conner causing Aiyuk’s right leg to bend backward.

Samuel was seen receiving oxygen on the bench in the first quarter. He didn’t touch the ball before departing. It marked his second missed game of the season.

Jennings leads San Francisco with 404 receiving yards. He also has 25 receptions and three touchdowns.

Aiyuk had 25 catches for 374 yards through Sunday’s game and hasn’t caught a touchdown pass. He staged an offseason holdout before accepting a four-year, $120 million contract extension in late August.

Samuel has 20 catches for 335 yards and one touchdown and also has 51 rushing yards and another score on the ground.

Rookie Ricky Pearsall was active for the first time after being placed on the 53-man roster on Saturday and made his first career catch. Pearsall, who was shot in the chest during a robbery attempt in San Francisco on Aug. 31, finished with three receptions for 21 yards.

–Field Level Media

Oct 20, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; SMU Mustangs quarterback Kevin Jennings (7) runs with the ball against Temple Owls safety Brenyen Scott (14) during the second half at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images

SMU replacing QB Preston Stone with Kevin Jennings

SMU coach Rhett Lashlee announced a quarterback change during the team’s bye week on Tuesday.

Kevin Jennings will start in place of Preston Stone when the Mustangs (2-1) host rival TCU (2-0) on Sept. 21.

Jennings took over after Stone was sacked twice in SMU’s first two series in last Friday’s 18-15 loss to BYU. Jennings finished with 140 yards on 15-of-32 passing with one interception, plus nine carries for 38 yards.

Both quarterbacks played in each of the first three games, including a 29-24 win at Nevada on Aug. 24 and a 59-7 victory over Houston Christian on Aug. 31.

Stone has completed 58.1 percent of his passes for 336 yards with three touchdowns and one interception this season. Jennings is at 56.9 percent with 342 yards, one TD and one pick. Jennings has also rushed for 96 yards and a touchdown.

Stone passed for 3,197 yards with 28 TDs and six interceptions in 12 games last season. Jennings started in the American Athletic Conference championship game win against Tulane, throwing for 203 yards and one TD.

The Mustangs play their Atlantic Coast Conference opener against Florida State on Sept. 28 in Dallas.

–Field Level Media

Sep 23, 2023; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; SMU Mustangs quarterback Preston Stone (2) in action during the game between the TCU Horned Frogs and the SMU Mustangs at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

SMU QB Preston Stone (broken leg) lost for season

SMU standout quarterback Preston Stone broke the fibula in his left leg during Saturday’s victory over Navy, Mustangs coach Rhett Lashlee said Monday.

Stone was injured in the second quarter of the 59-14 win. He passed for 322 yards and three touchdowns before exiting due to the injury.

“The team was disappointed for Preston,” Lashlee said of giving the squad the injury update. “Everybody is bummed. You work your tail off the way he did and just his development. You would love to be able to carry this through the end.”

Kevin Jennings will take over as the starting quarterback.

Stone’s injury represents a major blow for the Mustangs (10-2, 8-0), who meet Tulane (11-1, 8-0) in the American Athletic Conference title game on Saturday in New Orleans.

The winner of the contest could land a New Year’s Six berth. Liberty (12-0) of Conference USA also is in the mix.

Stone passed for 3,197 yards and 28 touchdowns against six interceptions this season. He also added four rushing scores.

Stone has passed for multiple touchdowns in each of the past eight games and in 10 of his 12 games this season.

Jennings, a redshirt freshman, was 2 of 4 for 26 yards against Navy. Overall, he has completed 18 of 24 passes for 224 yards and three touchdowns while backing up Stone this season.

The news on Stone comes on the same day in which Lashlee received a multiyear contract extension.

–Field Level Media