Photo courtesy of the San Francisco 49ers
49ers-Eagles: Kyle Shanahan says Brandon Aiyuk, Trey Sermon had a good week of practice
Sep 17, 2021 at 10:58 AM
•
Videos are auto-populated by an affiliate. This site has no control over the videos that appear above.
Earlier today, San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan addressed the media speculation that wide receiver
Brandon Aiyuk might be in his doghouse.
"No. It's not a doghouse,"
Shanahan said on KNBR before explaining that the second-year receiver's reduced playing time had more to do with him returning from an earlier injury and the emergence of Trent Sherfield.
Shanahan fully expects Aiyuk to earn more playing time as the season moves forward.
"I want Aiyuk to get that spot back, but Trent Sherfield doesn't make that easy," the coach added. "He has played at a high level. It's not personal. It's just about guys earning spots."
After practice today, Shanahan was once again asked about Aiyuk, this time about how the receiver performed in practice this week at The Greenbrier in West Virginia.
"Aiyuk did have a good week. He did," Shanahan responded.
Hopefully, for Aiyuk, that leads to more opportunities on Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles. So how does Shanahan evaluate what is a good week for his receivers?
"Just how you run your routes, how you do your blocking assignments, your MAs, how you take the new game plan, which you do on Wednesday to Thursday to Friday, and getting all the stuff. ... We have a pretty good group [of receivers], and I think all those guys had a pretty good week."
Earlier this week, offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel said Trey Sermon responded well in practice after the rookie running back was inactive during Week 1 against the Detroit Lions.
"There was a deliberate intent and an extra focus to him, an extra aggressiveness that I think his teammates felt," McDaniel said. "So, what that told me is, 'Hey, I didn't like not dressing. I want to play football. So how do I do that? I don't go and talk to people. I show people.'
"That's kind of the common denominator. Kyle always says to the players and coaches, 'Don't tell me, show me.' And he showed, I think all of us, that he really wants an opportunity, which he'll get this Sunday."
Shanahan also feels that Sermon has responded well this week, which will likely result in the running back being active this weekend—especially with Raheem Mostert out for the season.
"I thought he ran the ball better this week in practice," Shanahan said. "I think [McDaniel's comments are] accurate. Everyone, as the season starts to get going, you're getting better or worse, and it was good. I thought he got better this week."
Related News
Facebook Comments
More San Francisco 49ers News
Rapoport: 49ers send clear message to teams inquiring about Brandon Aiyuk
Ian Rapoport didn't offer much of an update on the ongoing contract negotiations between the San Francisco 49ers and their standout wide receiver, Brandon Aiyuk. However, the NFL insider emphasized one thing: The team is not entertaining trade discussions at this juncture.
Reacting to Aiyuk's decision to unfollow the 49ers on Instagram, Rapoport couldn't help but chuckle at the latest development. This practice has become commonplace among players who are unhappy with their contract situations. Wide receiver Deebo Samuel similarly took this action in 2022 before requesting to be traded just before the draft.
Things have yet to escalate that far with Aiyuk, but Rapoport sees his
Rumor: Steelers believe they can acquire 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk at a bargain
According to Sports Illustrated contributor Noah Strackbein, who writes for "All Steelers" on the network, there's a level of confidence within the Pittsburgh Steelers organization that they can strike a deal for San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk—and at a bargain rate.
"According to a team source, the Steelers and 49ers trade talks are real," Strackbein wrote. "While nothing is imminent, they 'would be surprised if it didn't happen.' But it all comes down to compensation, and Pittsburgh isn't willing to budge much on price."
While it seems unlikely that the 49ers would part ways with Aiyuk for anything less than a first-round draft
Insider provides clarity on 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk trade rumors
A questionable rumor surfaced on Wednesday regarding the Pittsburgh Steelers' interest in San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. Sports Illustrated contributor Noah Strackbein reported that the AFC team was seemingly confident they could pull off a trade for Aiyuk.
However, the credibility of this report comes into question due to the assertion that the Steelers believe they could acquire Aiyuk at a bargain price, possibly in exchange for a second-round draft pick and a late-round selection.
RELATED: Steelers believe they can acquire Aiyuk at a
Why one analyst is worried for Brock Purdy if 49ers trade Brandon Aiyuk
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy achieved a remarkable feat in 2023, setting a single-season franchise record with 4,280 passing yards. This accomplishment is noteworthy, considering the illustrious quarterbacks who have graced the organization's history.
A significant portion of those yards came from wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, who amassed a career-high and team-leading 1,342 receiving yards. Most of his 75 catches originated from passes thrown by Purdy.
Amidst significant offseason chatter surrounding the 49ers' star receiver, including several unsubstantiated trade rumors, Aiyuk's future remains uncertain. Former NFL player James Jones, now an analyst, expressed concern for Purdy should Aiyuk's tenure in the Bay Area come to an end.
"I
