San Francisco 49ers rookie wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk spent last week on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Because of the shortened week due to a Thursday-night game against the Green Bay Packers, Aiyuk didn't have enough time to be cleared to play.
He was cleared the next morning, though. Of course, San Francisco had already suffered a 34-17 defeat.
Aiyuk and two others were sidelined due to close contact with wide receiver Kendrick Bourne, who tested positive for the virus — and did so again this week before being cleared again today. Aiyuk and the others — Deebo Samuel and Trent Williams — never actually tested positive for COVID-19.
Williams has already expressed his frustration with missing last week's game, calling the whole experience "a nightmare." On Friday, Aiyuk voiced his opinion surrounding the experience.
"Last week, it was frustrating," Aiyuk admitted to reporters via a Zoom call. "Mostly being just the unknown. First of all, just wanting to make sure that I didn't have the virus. First, dealing with whatever I had going on at home with my family.
"And then also just not being able to get into the building and come (to work) was kind of rough. I would just explain it as just being just a tough week, not being able to come in and be able to practice, and especially not being able to play in the game."
While Samuel has once again been ruled out, it looks like both Aiyuk and Bourne will be back for this weekend's game against the New Orleans Saints. The rookie has registered 28 receptions for 371 yards with two receiving touchdowns through seven games this season while adding four carries for 69 rushing yards and two rushing scores.