The situation remained the same on Thursday, with Aiyuk still absent. This has to be a growing concern for the 49ers, who are running out of time to get their disgruntled wideout ready for the regular-season opener.
Aiyuk's continued absence will lead to fines. When asked on Wednesday about any potential disciplinary actions if Aiyuk continues to skip practices, head coach Kyle Shanahan said, "I'll deal with that when that happens, if that happens."
General manager John Lynch echoed Shanahan's sentiment before adding, "At some point, you've got to play."
Shanahan admitted that he is preparing his team for Week 1 as if Aiyuk and tackle Trent Williams—who is holding out for a restructured deal—won't be playing.
"I'm optimistic that things will work out with Trent," Shanahan said. "I'm not sitting here knowing what day it'll be. We're getting close to playing a game, so my mind is completely on preparing for a game without those guys."
The 49ers drafted Aiyuk out of Arizona State with the No. 25 overall pick in 2020. Last season, Aiyuk caught 75 passes for a team-leading 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns in 16 starts while playing 82 percent of the offensive snaps, per Pro Football Reference.
Aiyuk is under contract and set to earn $14.124 million on a team-exercised fifth-year option. However, he seeks a new deal that will make him one of the highest-paid receivers in the NFL, a position group that has seen the top of the market explode this offseason.
Meanwhile, the 49ers announced two roster moves, signing wide receiver Terrace Marshall Jr. and running back Ke'Shawn Vaughn to the practice squad.
Related News
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
Kendrick Bourne confirms 49ers haven't seen Brandon Aiyuk in months
The San Francisco 49ers, unable to keep tabs on recovering Brandon Aiyuk for months, were forced to place the wide receiver on the rarely used reserve/left squad list. The designation is typically applied to players who quit or step away. It officially ends Aiyuk's season after... -
49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk apologizes after viral speeding video controversy
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk recently made headlines after sharing a widely criticized video of himself speeding past Levi's Stadium, the team's home venue, in what was reportedly a newly purchased Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing. Brandon Aiyuk posted a new YouTube... -
49ers in free agency: 5 wide receivers who can replace Brandon Aiyuk
Before their win Monday night over Indianapolis, the San Francisco 49ers had officially clinched a playoff spot. Pittsburgh defeated Detroit in Week 16, making the NFC playoff picture clearer with two weeks to go in the regular season. This has been one of head coach Kyle... -
Brock Purdy, Christian McCaffrey keep putting up historic stats as 49ers offense continues to dominate
No NFL offense has been hotter as of late than that of the San Francisco 49ers, and it's been due in large part to the play of quarterback Brock Purdy and running back Christian McCaffrey. After a thrilling 42-38 win over the Chicago Bears on Sunday night, the 49ers have now...