Brandon Aiyuk has yet to deliver the production many expected when the San Francisco 49ers extended his contract, making him one of the NFL's highest-paid wide receivers. Through four games, Aiyuk has recorded just 13 catches for 167 yards and no touchdowns, putting him on pace for about 700 receiving yards this season—far below the career-high 1,342 yards he posted last year.
This slow start isn't entirely unexpected. Aiyuk didn't practice with the team until the week leading up to the regular season. Although he reported to training camp, he refrained from participating in practices or preseason games due to a contract standoff, "holding in" until a deal was reached.
Speaking to reporters before Wednesday's practice, Aiyuk offered a one-word assessment of his performance so far.
"Solid," Aiyuk said.
In Sunday's game against the New England Patriots, Aiyuk was targeted five times, finishing with two catches and tying his season-high of 48 receiving yards. His 66.0 receiving grade and 66.2 offensive grade from Pro Football Focus this season are career lows.
Aiyuk believes the opportunities have been there, but for various reasons, the ball hasn't come his way.
"That's just football," Aiyuk said. "That's just the receiver position. Sometimes it comes your way, sometimes it doesn't. But you've just got to keep working and try to get some momentum, get some stuff rolling your way so it can start going your way."
Aiyuk and the 49ers are preparing to host the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, the first of back-to-back NFC West matchups. They'll face the Seattle Seahawks on a short week next Thursday at Lumen Field.
