Fans have been reading about the on-field chemistry building between San Francisco 49ers rookie wideout Brandon Aiyuk and quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo since Saturday. That chemistry didn't start in training camp, though. The two tried to find time to work together during the offseason, too. That was as players were banned from entering NFL facilities due to the coronavirus pandemic.
That wasn't always easy for Aiyuk, who in June was still in the process of moving from Reno, Nevada to the Bay Area.
"I think the little bit of time that we had before we got to come out here, working out in San Jose, and going to Tennessee, just the reps we were able to get before I came out here, I think kind of helped us a lot," Aiyuk told reporters on Thursday. "So, just continuing to try to build on those and just maximize every rep that we get together."
With Deebo Samuel sidelined with a foot injury, Aiyuk has earned an increased workload with the first-team offense during practices. The opportunities have helped him move further along in his early development.
"He's got the ability, and he's worked hard from a mental standpoint," head coach Kyle Shanahan said on Thursday. "So he earned some reps there. He hasn't been going with them all the time. For the most part, our guys have been pretty interchangeable. Right now, the ones and twos are blending a ton together. Brandon has still got a lot to learn, a lot to go, but these practices are huge for a rookie like that.
"I know we're expecting him to play a lot this year, just like we were expecting Deebo and Jalen (Hurd) last year. When it's that way, you've got a lot of pressure on you, so you can't miss a day, or you get behind. He's doing that both mentally and physically."
Aiyuk has been doing whatever he can to make sure he and Garoppolo are on the same page. That includes constant communication.
"I think every single day, we're just working," Aiyuk added. "We talk about some things we could have done differently, some things that we liked, some things that we could do better. So every day is just a continuous grind, and just trying to build up and be ready to go Week 1."
Garoppolo commented on Tuesday that Aiyuk sees the football field very similar to a quarterback, which makes his job very easy. Aiyuk didn't want to go that far while speaking with reporters but noted that he tries to be as aware as possible of what Garoppolo may be seeing.
"Just be quarterback-friendly, just try to see zones," Aiyuk explained, "and just try to run my routes the way that I think that he would expect me to run it. Just being where I should be in certain coverages."
Aiyuk also discussed playing with a quarterback who has such a quick release. That can, at times, be daunting for a rookie receiver making the transition to the NFL.
"I think that there's plays where you're running a curl route or a route that's coming back towards the quarterback," Aiyuk said, "and it's a timing route, and you just see that as soon as you turn around, that ball is right on you. So, it's been a little bit of an adjustment just getting used to that, but it definitely helps.
"You don't really think about it too much except for when times like that come up where there's tight coverage, or there's a tight zone, and he's getting that ball in there."
