placeholder image

Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports


49ers coach Kyle Shanahan raves about the offseason preparation of WR Brandon Aiyuk

Jul 27, 2022 at 10:06 AM--


Videos are auto-populated by an affiliate. This site has no control over the videos that appear above.
After getting out of the gates sluggishly in 2021, 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk is full speed ahead as he approaches the 2022 season.

Big things were expected of Aiyuk in 2021 following an impressive rookie season that saw him catch 60 passes for 748 yards and five touchdowns in 12 games after being selected in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. But he had a surprising lack of impact over the early portion of the 2021 season, catching just nine passes for 96 yards and one touchdown over his first six games.

It turned out there were some things going on behind the scenes where 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan wasn't seeing what he expected to see out of Aiyuk as a second-year player. Some honest conversations on the matter took place between Shanahan and Aiyuk, then over the second half of the season, Aiyuk finished strong with 17-game totals of 56 catches for 826 yards and five touchdowns.

Shanahan spoke about Aiyuk before the 49ers' first training camp practice on Wednesday and made it clear the young receiver hasn't stopped trending in the right direction. As a matter of fact, Shanahan said Aiyuk has been exemplary in how he's approached the last few months.

"I'm impressed how Aiyuk's carried himself," Shanahan said. "I think everyone knows how it started off last year. He was a little bit behind where I wanted him. He accepted the challenge and handled it like a man and got so much better and just went to work. I think that showed to everyone as the year went through. It showed to his team especially, the quarterbacks. The way he came back for the offseason, it was awesome. He was so prepared and one of the leaders of our team, and that continued into the offseason."

Aiyuk also seems to already have a strong chemistry with new starting quarterback Trey Lance. The two of them have been spending time together on and off the field, including some throw-and-catch sessions over the summer.

"Some guys just hang around the quarterbacks so people write articles about it and they can get brownie points, but that's not Aiyuk's style," Shanahan said. "I liked where he was before he left, and the fact he was with Trey for so long makes a lot of sense because he seems pretty determined."

Aiyuk and Lance turned up around Shanahan's house recently, where they took on a workout challenge with general manager John Lynch. The two of them were then able to cool off for a bit in the ocean afterwards.

"They were just down by us working out," Shanahan said. "They went to go run some suicide hill or something they call it. Lynch did it with them. Lynch didn't win. And then when they were done, they came over because it was right by my house. We were just going to go up to lunch. They went in the ocean for the first time. That was fun to watch."

Aiyuk has been a popular pick as a potential breakout player this season for the 49ers, and Shanahan's words suggest those predictions could come true. Those words are also great news for a 49ers offense that will be working on forming chemistry under their new starting quarterback.

"The tighter your team is is always an advantage, but especially (at quarterback and receiver)," Shanahan said.



Facebook Comments



More San Francisco 49ers News


placeholder image

Kyle Shanahan: 49ers hope to keep Brandon Aiyuk, Brock Purdy together

By David Bonilla
Mar 26

Last week, San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan ran into his wide receiver, Brandon Aiyuk, while on vacation in Cabo San Lucas. "He was randomly at our hotel. I don't think he wanted to be," the coach shared on Tuesday while speaking to reporters at the NFL owners meetings. The 49ers are currently negotiating a long-term extension with Aiyuk to ensure he remains with the team for the foreseeable future. However, with it only being March, it's challenging to predict how everything will unfold. Typically, under the leadership of Shanahan and general manager John Lynch, the 49ers have reached agreements with their star players closer to training camp in July. Lynch stated yesterday that the


placeholder image

Steelers reportedly interested in trading for 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk

By David Bonilla
Mar 19

The Jacksonville Jaguars were reportedly interested in trading for star wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. However, the San Francisco 49ers' asking price of the No. 17 overall pick plus a player was seemingly too high for the team. Now, it appears another AFC team might be trying to pry Aiyuk away from the West Coast. Andrew Fillipponi of Pittsburgh-area radio station 93.7 The Fan reports that the Steelers are looking to work out a deal with the 49ers for the receiver. "Sources: The Steelers have looked into 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk," Fillipponi wrote on social media. "He's entering the last year of his contract. Steelers would have to execute a sign and trade. But they've shown


placeholder image

49ers' Brandon Aiyuk reacts to report that Steelers are interested

By David Bonilla
Mar 19

This morning, Andrew Fillipponi of Pittsburgh-area radio station 93.7 The Fan reported that the Steelers have "shown interest" in trading for San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. Hours later, Aiyuk shared the following on social media, leading some to believe that the receiver might be open to joining the East Coast team. @CoachTomlin they saying we twins. What you think ? 👀— BA (@THE2ERA)


placeholder image

49ers insider: If Brandon Aiyuk is traded, it will be before the draft

By David Bonilla
Mar 20

Brandon Aiyuk appears open to the possibility of playing elsewhere in 2024. If the San Francisco 49ers can't negotiate a favorable long-term deal with their star receiver, he knows someone else will. However, the 49ers primarily aim to retain Aiyuk for the long haul. The team exercised the fifth-year option on his contract but seeks to secure an extension before he retakes the field. General manager John Lynch recently praised Aiyuk, calling him one of his "favorite guys around the building." "He's a competitor. He's a warrior," Lynch added. "He plays with such physicality, also with grace, in the way some of the positions his body can get into. And then he's got a flair


Latest

Trending News

Share 49ersWebzone