Reporters got their second look at practice since the San Francisco 49ers kicked off organized team activities (OTAs) last week, and unsurprisingly, wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk was still absent. Aiyuk continues to stay away from the team as he awaits a lucrative contract extension.
ESPN's Nick Wagoner reports, "A deal doesn't appear to be imminent, but the 49ers remain confident something will get done to keep Aiyuk for the long haul."
Whether Aiyuk will appear at next week's minicamp remains to be seen. This minicamp is the only mandatory part of the offseason program before training camp. While the receiver might attend, he is unlikely to join his teammates on the practice field without a new deal in place.
"I'm trying to get what I deserve," Aiyuk said in March. "I feel like this season, this season playing football, I figured out who I was as a person and a player — what I bring to the table, what I bring to the locker room, what I bring to the organization. The value I hold when I walk in that building. … If they don't see the worth in that, that's all it is. It ain't nothing else besides that. I can't get into it. We got professionals working on both sides, so hopefully, we can come to a professional agreement to continue playing professional football."
Aiyuk's 1,342 receiving yards this past season led the team and marked his second consecutive season surpassing 1,000 receiving yards.
In addition to Aiyuk, star running back Christian McCaffrey was also absent from OTAs for the second week in a row. Some speculate that McCaffrey may be seeking a contract adjustment, and his absence from these voluntary portions of the offseason program could signal his intentions.
RB Christian McCaffrey and WR Brandon Aiyuk among those not present at today's voluntary OTA practice. #49ers
— Eric Branch (@Eric_Branch) May 29, 2024
McCaffrey is coming off a 2023 campaign that saw the running back amass 2,023 all-purpose yards and 21 total touchdowns, earning him NFL Offensive Player of the Year honors.
Last week, head coach Kyle Shanahan addressed the issue of players missing OTAs, stating, "I mean, I wish they were here, but it's something that's part of the business. Anytime it's part the business part, you try to respect it, stay out of it as much as possible, and look forward to the days when we can just focus on football."
The 49ers hope both players return soon, as their contributions are crucial to the team's success during the upcoming season.
The good news is that San Francisco signed wide receiver Jauan Jennings to a two-year, $15.4 million deal. After skipping OTAs last week, the veteran wideout reported to the team today.