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San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan recently expressed how important it is for rookie wide receiver
Brandon Aiyuk to get as much work as possible during training camp. The first-round pick won't be able to do that now, as he is expected to miss the remainder of training camp with a mild hamstring strain.
"We're expecting him to play a lot this year, just like we were expecting Deebo and Jalen last year,"
Shanahan said last week. "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, and he's doing that both mentally and physically."
Aiyuk is week-to-week, and the 49ers are fortunate that the injury wasn't worse. That, of course, means the rookie won't get the valuable reps for which Shanahan was hoping.
"Yeah, you get frustrated a little bit when it happens, but it's just happened too much to me that, over your career as a coach, that it's just part of the game," Shanahan told reporters via Zoom on Tuesday. "You can't sit there and dwell on it. You try to look at, was anything done wrong or anything like that? Not at all.
"Aiyuk's been in great shape. He's working his tail off out there, and sometimes that stuff just happens while you're going through a training camp. That has been the challenge, just this training camp not being quite as long."
Injuries have impacted the 49ers receivers group. Both
Deebo Samuel (foot) and Richie James Jr. (hand) suffered injuries in June.
Shanahan remains hopeful that Samuel will be ready for Week 1 against the Arizona Cardinals, but James' injury will likely force him to miss games. Jalen Hurd suffered a torn ACL during training camp, ending his season.
Now, you have Aiyuk's injury.
"So, it doesn't leave much room for error with that type of stuff, but it happened to Bosa last year," Shanahan continued. "When you've got guys who come in prepared, that gives them a chance when they don't get all these reps. If Aiyuk didn't come in the way that he did come in, he'd be screwed now with an injury. That's what's been cool about him that he's given himself a chance to overcome something like this.
"I think we got pretty good news with it because we thought at first it was a bad pull and it ended up just being a mild one. So, hopefully, it's only one, two weeks."
San Francisco made Aiyuk the No. 25 overall pick in April's draft. He recorded 98 receptions for 1,666 yards with 11 touchdowns in two seasons with the Sun Devils after transferring from Sierra College.
Shanahan says Aiyuk has to remain focused as he rehabs the injury.
"He's going to stay into it mentally and stuff," Shanahan said, "but no matter how mentally you stay into it, when you hear in the huddle, and you go out there full speed, it's a little bit harder. Hopefully, he'll get some time, probably about 10 days, hopefully, before we get back to Arizona, and we'll be able to catch him up then."
The San Francisco 49ers don't always do things like other NFL teams do. But they are consistent, for the most part. Seemingly every offseason, especially in recent years, a star player has wanted a new contract. From TE George Kittle and LB Fred Warner to WR Deebo Samuel and Edge Nick Bosa, the 49ers have given new contracts, but they have waited until late July-early August (and in Bosa's case—September) to do so, much to the chagrin of those players, who wanted their new deal sooner rather than later.
It may not have happened as soon as the players wanted it to, but it has happened. Kittle's contract talks reportedly weren't as smooth as he might have hoped, Samuel famously scrubbed his social media accounts of all things 49ers, and Bosa didn't sign until a few days
ESPN analyst Matt Miller understands the perspective of San Francisco 49ers fans. After all, he has been a fan of the team since he was a kid. Seeing any of your favorite players leave and put on another uniform is tough.
It's also difficult to pay everyone, and Miller knows that. It's not a formula for successful roster building, including paying two wide receivers top dollar.
The 49ers are trying to negotiate a contract extension with wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. The team invested heavily in another receiver, Deebo Samuel, just two years ago. Is allowing each of them to consume a significant chunk of the salary cap feasible for a team that hopes to continue being competitive and win Super Bowls?
"I have to separate the fan part of my brain, who
It's evident that the San Francisco 49ers engaged in long-term financial planning. Much discussion has centered around the feasibility of the team committing significant financial resources to two wide receivers, Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel. Some skeptics question the wisdom of such heavy investment in a single position, especially considering that the 49ers handed Samuel a substantial three-year extension merely two years ago.
Adding complexity to this debate is the impending contract extension for quarterback Brock Purdy, positioning him to become the highest-paid player on the team. He will likely even become one of the NFL's highest-paid players. Where he ranks in average salary will depend upon whether he can replicate the stellar performance of his Pro Bowl 2023
The San Francisco 49ers are optimistic they can negotiate a contract extension with star wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. Recognizing the impending significant investment, the team has been strategically planning for the day when Aiyuk's contract demands must be accommodated.
Despite the team's assurance that signing Aiyuk remains a priority, speculation continues to circulate within NFL circles, often involving Aiyuk's name in trade rumors. In March, general manager John Lynch addressed these rumors, stating that the 49ers are actively engaged in discussions with Aiyuk and his representatives while
