SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Star receiver Brandon Aiyuk skipped a second straight day of practice after being cleared by San Francisco 49ers doctors to participate as part of his long-running contract dispute.
Aiyuk hasn’t participated in practice this entire offseason as he seeks a lucrative long-term extension or a trade with coach Kyle Shanahan, citing a back injury as the official reason for what is essentially a contract “hold in.”
Shanahan and general manager John Lynch said Wednesday that Aiyuk had been cleared by doctors to practice and they expected him to be on the field. But Aiyuk has still not participated, subjecting him to daily fines.
According to the collective bargaining agreement, players are subject to fines for missing mandatory practices, with those increasing to $16,009 a day by the third offence. Players can also be fined for missing meetings, walkthroughs or other mandatory sessions, with the maximum for one day reaching $45,769.
Aiyuk did not practice Wednesday or Thursday, raising questions about whether he will play in the season opener against the New York Jets on Sept. 9. The Niners will take the weekend off before returning to practice next Tuesday.
Aiyuk had been a key part of San Francisco’s offence last season as he formed a great connection with quarterback Brock Purdy. Aiyuk had 75 catches and a career-high 1,375 yards last season with seven touchdowns as he earned second-team All-Pro honours.
The 49ers are also still without All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams, who is holding out as he seeks an improved contract. That leaves the Niners without two of their most important players just 11 days before the opener.
“I feel like the feeling is next man up,” cornerback Charvarius Ward said. “We definitely want to have those guys here. I know they feel like they deserve something more. We just have to roll with the punches. … It’s hard to replace those guys but it has to be a team effort.”
The 36-year-old Williams is owed $20.05 million this season under the six-year, $138.1 million deal he signed in 2021.
Williams’ average annual value of just over $23 million has been surpassed by five offensive linemen since he became the richest player at the position when he signed the deal with Tristan Wirfs, Penei Sewell and Christian Darrisaw all getting deals this offseason worth at least $26 million a year.
San Francisco did get a boost with 2022 All-Pro safety Talanoa Hufanga taking part in individual drills as he comes back from a torn ACL last November. Hufanga was activated from the physically unable to perform list on Tuesday and is expected back in September even if it is unlikely he will be ready for Week 1.
But his presence provided a needed boost for the team.
“He’s always positive,” defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen said. “He’s a good dude. But he’s also very smart and cerebral, always wanting to talk ball. The way that he plays, he’s a violent player too.”
NOTES: The 49ers made two additions to their practice squad, signing WR Terrace Marshall Jr. after the 2021 second-round pick was cut by Carolina and bringing back RB Ke’Shawn Vaughn, who was cut by San Francisco on Tuesday. The Niners needed extra bodies at running back with Christian McCaffrey (calf) and Isaac Guerendo (groin) dealing with injuries. … Among the other 49ers players not participating in the open portion of practice were DL Yetur Gross-Matos (knee), WR Jauan Jennings (oblique), LB Dee Winters and G Aaron Banks (pinky).
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk has been making headlines recently as he sat out his second consecutive practice despite being cleared to play. This news has left fans and fantasy football players alike wondering what could be going on with the talented young player.
Aiyuk, who was drafted by the 49ers in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, has shown flashes of brilliance on the field. He had a standout rookie season, recording 60 receptions for 748 yards and five touchdowns. His performance earned him a spot on the NFL All-Rookie Team and raised expectations for his sophomore season.
However, Aiyuk’s absence from practice has raised concerns about his availability for the upcoming game. The 49ers have not provided much information on why Aiyuk is sitting out, leading to speculation among fans and analysts.
One possible reason for Aiyuk’s absence could be related to injury. The 23-year-old has dealt with injuries in the past, including a hamstring issue that sidelined him for a few games last season. It’s possible that he is dealing with a nagging injury that is preventing him from fully participating in practice.
Another possibility is that Aiyuk is dealing with a personal matter that is keeping him off the field. The NFL has seen several players miss practice or games due to personal reasons, so it’s not out of the realm of possibility that Aiyuk is dealing with something off the field.
Regardless of the reason for his absence, Aiyuk’s status for the upcoming game remains uncertain. Fantasy football players who have Aiyuk on their roster will need to monitor the situation closely and have a backup plan in place in case he is unable to play.
The 49ers will likely provide an update on Aiyuk’s status closer to game day, so fans will have to wait and see if he will be able to suit up. In the meantime, Aiyuk’s absence serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of the NFL and the importance of having depth at every position.