Shanahan shares 49ers’ contingency plan if Aiyuk doesn’t play Week 1 Originally appeared in NBC Bay Area Sports
The clock is ticking.
And if the 49ers don’t reach a new contract agreement with Brandon Aiyuk soon, the star wide receiver might not be on the field in Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season. That’s a scenario coach Kyle Shanahan has considered, he told KNBR.Tolbert and Copes“Wednesday show.
“That’s what everyone’s competing for right now,” Shanahan said. “We’ve got Jauan (Jennings), who’s done a lot of good things for us here over the years. When guys are healthy, he’s always excelled as our slot receiver. But we’ve also used him on the outside. He’s always been able to be on the outside, and he’s probably the first guy we’d go to because he’s been our No. 3 receiver since we’ve been here, and sometimes, in some big moments, we’ve used him as a No. 1 player.”
Aiyuk has yet to play in a preseason game and missed the 49ers’ entire training camp, which concluded Wednesday, as he “stands by,” seeking a new deal with San Francisco or a trade to another team that will pay him what he wants. The saga has It lasted throughout the off-seasonBut a “Monday Night Football” game with the New York Jets is right around the corner on Sept. 9, and Aiyuk will likely need some time to get ready to play.
While Jennings is the top option to play in place of Deebo Samuel if Aiyuk doesn’t play against Aaron Rodgers and Co., Shanahan also praised some of San Francisco’s other wide receivers and noted that the team has plenty of depth.
“Chris Conley has had a spectacular camp,” Shanahan continued. “He played really well for us last year, did a great job last year and made a number of plays leading up to the playoffs, in the playoffs and in the Super Bowl. He’s been on a lot of teams as well, where he’s done it for a while. And then we’ve got these rookies that are pushing, that I know will be there eventually, but they’re a little bit slowed down by their injuries. But they’re guys that we believe in, guys that are made of the right stuff.
“And then we have a lot of depth here with players we brought in from other teams, who have been on other teams’ rosters before. We have players who have been on the back end of our roster and who are trying to do that again with Danny (Gray) and Ronnie Bell, and things like that.”
There’s no denying that Aiyuk is a key part of the 49ers’ offense, but Shanahan has clearly thought about how San Francisco will approach things if his absence extends into the regular season. But a resolution could be on the horizon, after NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported Tuesday, citing sources, that the The 49ers met with Aiyuk Again on Monday and we are moving towards a long-term extension.
As the twists and turns of this ordeal continue, Shanahan seems as exhausted by the issue as the Faithful.
“A lot of things have changed,” Shanahan laughed when asked to give an update on the negotiations with Aiyuk. “No, I’m just kidding. There’s nothing new. Sorry to keep boring you with this. I wish I was saying something different, but nothing has changed yet.”
