San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk caught three passes for 25 yards in the team's Week 18 regular-season finale against the Los Angeles Rams. The game held little significance as both teams had already clinched playoff spots, with the 49ers already securing the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage.
Aiyuk didn't have to play but suited up because the 49ers needed to field a team. However, it sounds like Aiyuk would have preferred to sit out the matchup. During an appearance on "The Nightcap" podcast, he elaborated on his sentiments with former NFL players Shannon Sharpe and Chad Ochocinco.
Despite finishing the season with a team-leading 1,342 receiving yards and seven touchdowns, marking his second consecutive season surpassing the 1,000-yard mark, Aiyuk expressed frustration. His 17.9 yards per reception ranked second only to Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens.
"I'm leading it the whole entire year, YPC (yards per catch)," Aiyuk explained. "Last game in the season. I think Pickens didn't have no catch in the last game of the season. Last game of the season, [QB Brock] Purdy ain't play. They sent me out there, and I lost it in the last week. So I'm mad about that one."
Although the extra 25 receiving yards on three catches in Week 18 wouldn't have significantly altered his yardage total, throwing out that production would have resulted in Aiyuk averaging 18.3 yards per reception for the season, securing him the top spot in the league.
It's unlikely such a trivial statistic will influence his offseason negotiations with the 49ers for a contract extension. Aiyuk emphasizes that his consistent production and strong work ethic are the true indicators of his value, affirming, "I'm trying to get what I deserve."
49ers coach provides update on Brandon Aiyuk, expectations for Ricky Pearsall
By David Bonilla
May 8
San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak spoke with reporters on Thursday as first-year players reported for rookie minicamp, which runs through Saturday. It was a chance to get an update on wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk's recovery from the serious knee injury he...
Why the 49ers' 2025 Schedule Could Be Their Golden Ticket Back to the NFC West Throne
By Carlos Torres
May 13
Tomorrow, May 14th, 2025, at 8 p.m. ET, the NFL world will turn its attention to the unveiling of the 2025 schedule. This release carries significant weight for the San Francisco 49ers and their faithful, potentially outlining the path back to NFC West supremacy.
Based on...
ESPN reveals why Kurtis Rourke could thrive with the 49ers
By David Bonilla
May 15
The San Francisco 49ers were widely expected to target a quarterback in the later rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft. Still, few anticipated they'd take a chance on one recovering from ACL surgery—especially one who may not be ready to compete for a roster spot during training...
Why ESPN sees 49ers as a perfect fit for Mykel Williams
By David Bonilla
May 9
ESPN's Matt Bowen recently released his annual list of NFL Draft picks who landed with the ideal team—15 rookies poised for early success thanks to their fit within their new organizations. For the San Francisco 49ers, that rookie is first-round pick Mykel Williams, the...