49ers' Brandon Aiyuk: Set for No. 1 role sans Samuel
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Aiyuk is expected to serve as the 49ers' No. 1 receiver for at least Sunday's game against the Rams after San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan said Monday that Deebo Samuel (calf) is likely to miss "a couple weeks," Ron Kroichick of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
After holding out for all of training camp and the preseason before finalizing a contract extension with the 49ers in late August, Aiyuk has had a muted role in the San Francisco passing attack though the first two weeks of the season. Though he was back to handling a normal snap share in Week 2 (88 percent), Aiyuk still finished with a modest 4-43-0 receiving line on five targets in this past Sunday's 23-17 loss to the Vikings. Samuel ended up missing just one snap due to the calf strain he suffered with 2:18 remaining in the fourth quarter and was the busier of the two receivers on the day with an 8-110-0 line on 10 targets, but his expected absence for Week 3 and likely Week 4 should free up more opportunities for Aiyuk. Wideout Jauan Jennings and tight end George Kittle could also see upticks in targets, but coming off a 1,342-yard season and with a new four-year, $120 million contract in tow, Aiyuk projects to be the primary option in the passing game for quarterback Brock Purdy.
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49ers' Brandon Aiyuk: Slow start continues Sunday
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Aiyuk had four receptions (five targets) for 43 yards in Sunday's 23-17 loss to Minnesota.
Aiyuk was limited to five targets for the second consecutive week but saw his production increase against the Vikings compared to last week's two-catch dud against the Jets. The star wideout's low involvement was foreshadowed by head coach Kyle Shanahan prior to Week 1 after Aiyuk missed the entirety of the preseason schedule while in search of a contract extension. Dual-threat superstar Christian McCaffrey (calf/Achilles) was placed on injured reserve prior to Sunday's tilt and will be missing in action for at least the first six games of the season. Deebo Samuel (8/110/0) and George Kittle (7/76/1) have picked up the slack in the passing game while Aiyuk continues to reintegrate into the game plan. The 49ers have thrown just one touchdown pass through two games this season, so a Week 3 matchup against the Rams could be when we see Aiyuk break out of his early season slump.
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49ers' Brandon Aiyuk: Limited to two receptions Monday
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Aiyuk had two receptions (on five targets) for 28 yards in Monday's 32-19 win over the Jets.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan foreshadowed that Aiyuk would see a limited role after missing the entire preseason waiting out his contract dispute with the front office. The 2020 first-round pick still saw five targets and did well on a per-touch basis, so fantasy managers shouldn't panic over the Week 1 dud. Better days will be ahead for Aiyuk and the passing game, potentially starting with Sunday's matchup against Minnesota.
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49ers' Brandon Aiyuk: Strikes extension with San Fran
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The 49ers and Aiyuk reached an agreement on a four-year, $120 million extension Thursday, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
The long offseason and preseason saga surrounding Aiyuk has now reached its conclusion, with the wide receiver reportedly getting $76 million in guaranteed money to stay in the Bay Area. Now that he's locked in with the 49ers for the foreseeable future, he'll be looking to uphold his standard as a 1,000-yard option in San Francisco's offense, something that he's accomplished in both of the past two campaigns.
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49ers' Brandon Aiyuk: Absent from practice again
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Aiyuk is not present at Thursday's practice, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
Aiyuk's absences were a mainstay of training camp for the 49ers, but it's notable for him to still be a non-participant after coach Kyle Shanahan offered hope Wednesday that the wideout would practice soon. Shanahan also stated Wednesday that Aiyuk has been cleared by team doctors, which could be an indication that San Francisco will consider implementing fines if the 2020 first-round pick's participation level doesn't change. With under two weeks remaining until the 49ers' regular-season opener against the Jets, a resolution to Aiyuk's situation should come soon, no matter the outcome.
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49ers' Brandon Aiyuk: Not practicing Wednesday
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Aiyuk was not present at the portion of Wednesday's practice open to the media, though head coach Kyle Shanahan said that he's hopeful that the wideout will resume participating soon, Cam Inman of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
Shanahan noted Wednesday that Aiyuk has been "cleared by our doctors," per David Lombardi of The Athletic. However, Aiyuk looks like he could be continuing his "hold in" while he seeks a contract extension. While it's notable that Aiyuk is officially healthy enough to practice after having contended with neck and back discomfort during training camp, his lack of a long-term deal clearly remains the true hurdle. The 49ers now have under two weeks remaining before the Sept. 9 season-opening matchup against the Jets, and Aiyuk has yet to practice with the team this summer.
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49ers' Brandon Aiyuk: Could practice soon
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Head coach Kyle Shanahan suggested Wednesday that Aiyuk (contract dispute) could resume practicing soon, noting that he wideout has been "cleared by our doctors," David Lombardi of The Athletic reports.
Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports that Aiyuk had back and neck injuries during training camp, although the wideout's absence from practice this summer largely has been attributed to a contract dispute (and subsequent trade request). The contract is clearly the bigger issue, and there doesn't seem to be any question that Aiyuk currently is healthy enough to practice -- something he's yet to do this summer. Shanahan said he hopes to have Aiyuk practicing later Wednesday, but it's unclear if that's wishful thinking or a realistic goal.
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49ers' Brandon Aiyuk: No update from GM
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49ers GM John Lynch said Thursday that he has no update on Aiyuk but remains in contact with the wide receiver, Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
It's the offseason drama with no end, although at some point it might become slightly less complicated due to other teams losing interest in a trade (or at least giving San Francisco a deadline). The Steelers were thought to be the last man standing in that regard a week ago, with Cleveland and New England having failed to convince Aiyuk to sign a long-term deal post-trade. The 49ers still hope to sign him -- or at least get him back on the field under the fifth-year option he's currently under contract for -- and it would seem a trade becomes less and less likely with each passing day.
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49ers' Brandon Aiyuk: Restarts talks with San Francisco
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Aiyuk and the 49ers have re-opened negotiations on a potential long-term deal that would keep the star wideout in San Francisco for the foreseeable future, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Aiyuk reportedly had a recent meeting with coach Kyle Shanahan and others among the 49ers' top brass which went positively enough to lend some optimism to the idea that he could stick around in San Francisco, per Jordan Schultz of BleacherReport.com. The Patriots are reported to have exited trade talks due to Aiyuk's disinterest in playing in New England, despite the team offering a lucrative contract, while the Steelers and Browns continue to be mentioned as suitors for a potential trade. For the time being, Aiyuk's situation remains fluid and at risk of continuing to stretch out into the preseason, with the start of the regular season still roughly one month away, but Pelissero's report that the 49ers are making a push toward extending Aiyuk could also motivate other interested teams to negotiate with a greater sense of urgency.
The Steelers and 49ers have re-engaged in trade talks Tuesday regarding a potential deal for Aiyuk, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
It was reported as of Monday night that San Francisco had trade frameworks in place with both the Patriots and Browns, and it appears that Pittsburgh, a destination that Aiyuk previously named as a preference, has jumped back into the mix. All interested teams still have to overcome the hurdle of meeting Aiyuk's contract demands before a trade can be consummated, but if the wideout truly is interested in the Steelers as a landing spot, that could provide extra momentum to get a deal done with them. Previous reports suggested the Browns and Patriots would send a veteran wideout to the 49ers as part of the deal, with Amari Cooper and Kendrick Bourne (knee) being floated, but the only option the Steelers might have to include in a package is Van Jefferson, as the rest of their receiver room is very inexperienced behind George Pickens. That could mean a deal would have to involve additional draft capital. Aiyuk remains present, but is not practicing, at 49ers training camp.
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49ers' Brandon Aiyuk: Two teams in running
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The 49ers have a framework in place to trade Aiyuk to the Patriots or Browns if he can agree to a contract with either team, Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
The two teams reportedly are wiling to meet San Francisco's trade demands but haven't yet met Aiyuk's contract demands. Both agreements presumably need to be hammered out before a trade is completed, with Jets edge rush Haason Reddick providing a cautionary example about trading for a player that's in a contract year and seeking a new deal. Previous reports suggested the 49ers would be more willing to trade Aiyuk if they get a veteran wideout as part of the return, with Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer suggesting Amari Cooper could be involved in any deal with the Browns. Kendrick Bourne (knee) has also been mentioned in relation to a trade with the Patriots, in part because he spent the first four seasons of his career with the 49ers. A trade involving Bourne rather than Cooper presumably would entail far more draft compensation, as the former is still working his way back from the ACL tear he suffered Oct. 29 last season and has had a significantly less impressive career to date. It's also possible these recent reports could inspire another team to up its offer for Aiyuk, although any new suitor would also face the same hurdle of needing to work out a contract with him prior to trading for him. Aiyuk requested a trade in mid-July and has been present at 49ers training camp but is not practicing.
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49ers' Brandon Aiyuk: Could be traded for another WR?
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The 49ers aren't likely to trade Aiyuk for only draft picks but may be willing to deal him if a veteran wide receiver is part of the return, Matt Maiocco of the NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
The problem then becomes that most teams with quality WRs aren't looking to trade them for a player who is in his contract year and holding out for a massive new deal. Maiocco mentions the Browns (and Amari Cooper) as a possible exception, along with the Patriots (and Kendrick Bourne), though the latter wouldn't come anywhere close to making up for the loss of Aiyuk. For now, Aiyuk remains a "hold in" at 49ers training camp, limited to attending meetings and watching practices. Contract negotiations are ongoing, as has seemingly been the case for much of the spring and summer.
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49ers' Brandon Aiyuk: Present, but not practicing
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Aiyuk is present at training camp Wednesday but isn't dressed for practice, Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Though he's reported from training camp, Aiyuk looks to be "holding in" and thus abstaining from team drills as he continues to look for a contract extension. Coming off a breakout season in which he put up a 75-1,342-7 receiving line on 105 targets in 15 games, Aiyuk has expressed frustration with the fact that he remains without a long-term deal, and he went so far as to officially request a trade prior to the start of camp. Still, considering Aiyuk's lack of leverage, the most likely outcome remains that he plays out the 2024 season in a 49ers uniform, whether on the fifth-year option on his rookie contract or a new deal.
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49ers' Brandon Aiyuk: No trade to Washington expected
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Commanders GM Adam Peters said Aiyuk is unlikely to end up in Washington, Sam Fortier of The Washington Post reports.
Frustrated with extension contract negotiations, Aiyuk requested a trade earlier this month. Washington has been oft-mentioned as a fit due to the wideout's friendship with the Commanders' new franchise quarterback Jayden Daniels as well as the team's shaky wideout depth behind Terry McLaurin, but it doesn't sound like the front office has any expectation of making such a splashy trade before the start of the season. Scheduled to play out 2024 under the fifth-year option on his rookie contract, Aiyuk may hold out from training camp even though he'd accrue $50,000 in mandatory fines each day.
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49ers' Brandon Aiyuk: Officially requests trade
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Aiyuk officially requested a trade from the 49ers on Tuesday, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
Aiyuk's trade requests follows a tumultuous offseason, and though his recent meeting with the team was reported to have gone well, the star wideout is now looking to force San Francisco's hand with training camp just around the corner. It now seems realistic that Aiyuk, who is currently positioned to play out the 2024 season on a $14.12 million salary under the fifth-year option of his rookie deal, could hold out of training camp if no trade comes quickly to fruition. The 49ers selected Ricky Pearsall in the first round of April's draft, giving the team a pivot option behind top wideout Deebo Samuel should Aiyuk move on, and also brought back Jauan Jennings on a two-year deal.
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49ers' Brandon Aiyuk: Meeting with Niners goes well
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Aiyuk and the 49ers had a meeting Monday that Tom Pelissero of NFL Network described as "good," and both sides are continuing to work toward a contract extension, Grant Gordon of NFL.com reports.
Aiyuk, who held out of mandatory minicamp earlier this month, requested a meeting with San Francisco roughly one week after posting a video in which he told Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels, whom he played with at Arizona State, that the 49ers "said they don't want me back," per Nick Wagoner of ESPN. It seems things have landed in a more amicable place following Monday's most recent meeting, though there still aren't any signs that an agreement on a new contract is immediately around the corner. As it stands, Aiyuk remains in line to play under the fifth-year option on his rookie contract for $14.12 million for 2025, but if that doesn't change by the start of training camp tensions could come to a head, especially if he continues to hold out. The 26-year-old is coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving campaigns and has been one of the most efficient wide receivers in the league in Kyle Shanahan offenses.
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49ers' Brandon Aiyuk: Likely staying in Bay Area
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49ers GM John Lynch recently told ESPN's Pat McAfee Show that he doesn't want to trade Aiyuk or Deebo Samuel despite taking Ricky Pearsall in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Trade rumors earlier in the offseason centered on Aiyuk, who is scheduled to play out 2024 under the fifth-year option on his rookie contract. After the Niners drafted Pearsall, a few reporters suggested Samuel was actually more likely to be moved, in which case the Niners presumably would place greater emphasis on signing Aiyuk to a long-term deal. It now appears both will stay with the team this season, as will returning No. 3 receiver Jauan Jennings. That's not a guarantee, but it at least seems more likely that spring 2025 will be the break-up date for San Francisco's veteran WR corps. Aiyuk and Jennings are only under contract through 2024, while Samuel has two more years on his deal but no guaranteed money after this season.
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49ers' Brandon Aiyuk: Discussing deal with team
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GM John Lynch said Monday that the 49ers are having "good talks" with Aiyuk, who hasn't been at the team facility for the offseason program, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports.
Aiyuk is unlikely to show up for voluntary workouts without a new contract in hand, but that doesn't necessarily mean he'll hold out from mandatory minicamp in June if the two sides haven't reached an agreement by then. The 26-year-old's agent denied reports of a trade request last weekend, and it sounds like there's still hope for a long-term contract heading into the fifth and final year of Aiyuk's rookie deal. He's scheduled to make $14.12 million under the fifth-year option, whereas a multi-year deal likely would entail a large signing bonus and an annual average value well north of $20 million. Making it work for the 2024 season isn't an issue, but the Niners may be hesitant to pay Aiyuk at market value long term when they already have six players scheduled for cap hits north of $20 million in 2025, including WR Deebo Samuel and TE George Kittle. Even then, it's a workable situation, as they've got a starting QB on a late-round-rookie contract and don't owe large sums of guaranteed money beyond the current year to anyone besides DE Nick Bosa.
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49ers' Brandon Aiyuk: Team denies trade rumors
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GM John Lynch said Monday that the 49ers have not engaged in trade discussions regarding Aiyuk and that both sides continue to have active talks about a contract extension, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Lynch also noted that San Francisco would be amicable to Aiyuk simply playing out the 2024 season on his fifth-year option, an outcome that would position the young wideout to hit free agency next offseason. The 2020 first-round pick recorded a 75-1,342-7 receiving line across 16 regular-season games last year, and while his skills certainly are central to the 49ers offense and Brock Purdy's continued success, the team is tight against the cap with a star-studded list of skill-position players that also includes WR Deebo Samuel, RB Christian McCaffrey and TE George Kittle (groin). Trade rumors may continue to surround Aiyuk this offseason even after Lynch's denial, but considering San Francisco's status as a win-now roster and high-end contender in the NFC, the team likely places extreme value on the 26-year-old wideout's continued presence, even if only for the short term.
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49ers' Brandon Aiyuk: Team seeking extension
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49ers general manager John Lynch said Tuesday at the NFL Scouting Combine that the team wants to sign Aiyuk to a long-term contract extension, Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Lynch spoke strongly about Aiyuk's future, saying "we've got a nice track record of extending guys and [Aiyuk] is a guy we'd like to keep around." Now entering the fifth and final year of his rookie contract, and coming off a standout 75-1,342-7 receiving line across 16 games in 2023, the wideout will be set for a big payday regardless of what team he ends up with. Aiyuk has improved upon his yardage and touchdown totals each season in the NFL, so it wouldn't be unheard of for him to take another step forward during the 2024 campaign.
