Each of Brandon Aiyuk's last three outings produced six or more catches for 81-or-more yards. The San Francisco 49ers wide receiver has scored three touchdowns during that span and is on pace for his first NFL season surpassing 1,000 receiving yards.
It wasn't long ago that Aiyuk's head coach, Kyle Shanahan, predicted big things on the horizon for the wide receiver. Speaking with reporters before Wednesday's practice, Shanahan was asked why he was so confident that his young wideout was close to breaking out.
"Just how he looked on every play," Shanahan responded. "Just the routes he was running, how he was separating, how he was blocking, how good he seemed. Guys go through ups and downs throughout the year, always, whether it's physical or mental, but I did think Atlanta was probably his best game of the year going up to that time, and I think he's passed that the last two games.
"That happens with a lot of players. You can't see it on TV, but when you get to see the coach's copy, and you just isolate on people, then you can know, really, who's playing well and not."
What makes Aiyuk such a unique weapon on offense?
"That he has the capability to do everything," Shanahan said. "... He's got the speed to run by someone, he's got the cutting ability and the hips to separate, he's got the length to catch balls when people are on him, and he's not scared to run after it. He's got the ability to do all of it."
Jeff Wilson Jr. trade
Wednesday was the first time Shanahan spoke to the media since the 49ers traded running back Jeff Wilson Jr. to the Miami Dolphins. As general manager John Lynch shared after the trade, the head coach admitted that the decision wasn't easy.
"[It was] extremely hard," Shanahan said. "That was one that [I was] not happy about [or] excited about, but something that I truly understand that, I think, was the best for the team. We've got a lot of running backs here who can do some stuff. Jeff has been exactly what I want for a Niner, and he's helped us in every situation possible.
"We got that opportunity to bring in [running back] Christian [McCaffrey], [running back] Elijah [Mitchell] is coming back, we've got a lot of other guys in the depth chart that give us depth. Not that that made Jeff expendable by any means."
The 49ers have surrendered significant draft capital to acquire McCaffrey last month and quarterback Trey Lance last year. Wilson was scheduled to become a free agent after this season. San Francisco added a fifth-round draft pick to next year's portfolio by trading the running back.
"I didn't think it would happen at all because usually it doesn't, but a team wanted him really bad," Shanahan continued. "And when they did, and moved it up enough to where, even though I was hoping it wouldn't [happen] because I wanted him here this year, when you look at the future and stuff, and how many games are left, and what our roster's like, you've got to make the best decision that isn't always [based on] right now."
