Two key San Francisco 49ers starters, wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk and running back Christian McCaffrey, were absent from the organized team activities (OTAs). As the team kicks off its only mandatory minicamp today, closing out its offseason program, many wondered whether either player would attend.
According to Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle, McCaffrey will attend this week's minicamp.
RB Christian McCaffrey will attend the #49ers mandatory minicamp, which starts today. The NFL's reigning Offensive Player of the Year did not participate in the voluntary part of the offseason program.
— Eric Branch (@Eric_Branch) June 4, 2024
As of this post, Aiyuk's status remains unclear. However, that will become clearer when the 49ers hit the practice field at 10:40 a.m. PT this morning. Head coach Kyle Shanahan is scheduled to speak to reporters after practice, around noon.
After Tuesday and Wednesday practices, the 49ers will break until they report back to Santa Clara for training camp in the latter half of July.
Aiyuk is seeking a contract extension that will make him one of the highest-paid receivers in the NFL. Recent reports indicate that the two sides are far from finalizing a deal. The reason behind McCaffrey's absence from OTAs remains unclear, with many speculating that the running back also seeks financial compensation, perhaps in the form of more guaranteed money.
The 49ers acquired McCaffrey in October 2022. Last season, he surpassed 2,000 yards from scrimmage for the second time in his career, including an NFL-leading 1,459 rushing yards and 21 total touchdowns, per Pro Football Reference. McCaffrey's impressive 2023 campaign earned him NFL Offensive Player of the Year honors.
