The Sports Xchange

San Francisco 49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks will miss Sunday’s game against the New York Giants due to the death of his sister, ESPN reported Thursday.

Brooks’ sister, Casandra, died Wednesday at the age of 40. She suffered with lupus, according to Greg Williams, the agent for Ahmad Brooks.

Brooks arrived in the New Orleans area Wednesday after his older sister had died. He is now grieving with family and he is expected to return to the team after next week’s funeral.

“Obviously all our thoughts and prayers are with Ahmad and we’ll see how it goes,” defensive coordinator Eric Mangini told reporters. “Knowing Ahmad and the way that he’s worked, he’s someone I feel comfortable with being able to pick things up quickly and contribute. But that’s really secondary right now.”