It doesn't look like Brandon Aiyuk will flinch in his standoff with the San Francisco 49ers. The team had hoped their wide receiver would return to practice on Wednesday as preparations began for Week 1, when the 49ers will host the New York Jets. However, Aiyuk skipped practice and was nowhere to be seen.
The situation remained the same on Thursday, with Aiyuk still absent. This has to be a growing concern for the 49ers, who are running out of time to get their disgruntled wideout ready for the regular-season opener.
As the 49ers open practice today, there is still no sign of wide receiver, Brandon Aiyuk on the practice field.
— Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoNBCS) August 29, 2024
Aiyuk's continued absence will lead to fines. When asked on Wednesday about any potential disciplinary actions if Aiyuk continues to skip practices, head coach Kyle Shanahan said, "I'll deal with that when that happens, if that happens."
General manager John Lynch echoed Shanahan's sentiment before adding, "At some point, you've got to play."
As a player on an exercised 5th-year option, #49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk is subject to $40,000 per day fines for unexcused absence from practice.
If his hold-in/out carries into the regular season, Aiyuk will forfeit $784,666 per week missed.
— Spotrac (@spotrac) August 29, 2024
Shanahan admitted that he is preparing his team for Week 1 as if Aiyuk and tackle Trent Williams—who is holding out for a restructured deal—won't be playing.
"I'm optimistic that things will work out with Trent," Shanahan said. "I'm not sitting here knowing what day it'll be. We're getting close to playing a game, so my mind is completely on preparing for a game without those guys."
The 49ers drafted Aiyuk out of Arizona State with the No. 25 overall pick in 2020. Last season, Aiyuk caught 75 passes for a team-leading 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns in 16 starts while playing 82 percent of the offensive snaps, per Pro Football Reference.
Aiyuk is under contract and set to earn $14.124 million on a team-exercised fifth-year option. However, he seeks a new deal that will make him one of the highest-paid receivers in the NFL, a position group that has seen the top of the market explode this offseason.
Meanwhile, the 49ers announced two roster moves, signing wide receiver Terrace Marshall Jr. and running back Ke'Shawn Vaughn to the practice squad.
