San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy #13 and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk #11 leave the field after their 33-19 NFL loss to the Baltimore Ravens at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
SANTA CLARA — As trade rumors engulf Brandon Aiyuk’s idling status with the 49ers, coach Kyle Shanahan said Tuesday that “nothing has changed.”
Defensive end Nick Bosa, a year removed from his own contract battle with the 49ers, called such negotiations “brutal,” but then expressed confidence “it will get done” between the 49ers and Aiyuk.
Asked if he expects the situation to be resolved soon, Shanahan said: “No. You always want it to be, badly. This stuff takes time. Every day I hope it gets resolved. Hopefully it will get resolved sooner than later.”
The Pittsburgh Steelers re-emerged as a potential trade partner after talks stalled Monday night, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported after the 49ers’ 1 1/2-hour practice Tuesday.
The 49ers have granted Aiyuk permission to speak with other teams, and although Shanahan said he spoke with him earlier in camp about his plight, any business talk runs between Lynch and Aiyuk’s agent.
Aiyuk, as he has done throughout this camp, briefly watched practice from afar and attended team meetings. General manager John Lynch observed practice on the field and walked off it afterward with Shanahan.
“I’m not going to get into specifics with offers, contracts, or trades,” Shanahan added. “A lot (of news) was out yesterday but the situation we’re in with Brandon, nothing has changed.”
The 49ers have agreed to trade proposals by two teams, the Cleveland Browns and the New England Patriots, as reported Monday night by NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco. Aiyuk presumably gets a say on whether any deal progresses, conceivably with the lucrative contract extension he has anxiously sought from the 49ers for six months — and counting.
Could Aiyuk still secure a long-term deal with the 49ers?
“There’s a scenario with everything, so I wouldn’t rule anything out,” Shanahan added. “Brandon is a great player, so it’s real hard when you lose a great player. We have to look into everything and understand the situation we’re in. It takes time.”
Shanahan quipped that it would take only 2 1/2 days to bring a new receiver up to speed in the offense if one is acquired in return via trade. Then he noted that experience would play a factor. For example, the Cleveland Browns’ Amari Cooper might integrate quicker as he enters his 10th season.
Ricky Pearsall, the 49ers’ first-round draft pick, was pulled out of Tuesday’s practice after aggravating a shoulder injury tracing to the spring, Shanahan added. Other receivers injured this camp include Jacob Cowing (hamstring; returned Tuesday) and Danny Gray (shoulder).
“Even though Brandon is dealing with that (contract) right now, he’s still around. He’s in the meeting rooms and very active,” wide receivers coach Leonard Hankerson said. “… He’s been good. He’s been active and awesome.”
Deebo Samuel and Jauan Jennings have been the go-to targets, both of whom are on their second contracts, something Aiyuk is looking to sign either with the 49ers or elsewhere.
Bosa’s second contract came a year ago and made him the league’s highest-paid non-quarterback. He said Tuesday he had “a few moments” last summer wondering if he might get dealt amid his training camp holdout. He signed just two days before the season opener.
“As it got closer and closer (to the opener), it gets pretty dicey,” Bosa said. “But I definitely didn’t want to be traded. It’s a good place to be. I’m very thankful and grateful to be paid and here, because there are not many organizations as good as this one.”
Aiyuk is slated to play this season on the fifth-year option of his rookie contract, with a $14.1 million salary that is at least half the market rate for a No. 1-caliber receiver. The 49ers offense has flourished in recent years and Aiyuk’s back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons illustrate what a reliable target he’s become for third-year quarterback Brock Purdy.
When Bosa was asked if he won his contract staredown with the 49ers, he replied: “I’m not going to comment but they are tough.”
Also locked in a contract dispute is left tackle Trent Williams, who Shanahan believes is in his hometown of Houston. “I’m confident Trent is working out and getting ready,” Shanahan added. “Hopefully that will be resolved as fast as possible, too.”
McCAFFREY DINGED UP?
Running back Christian McCaffrey, the NFL’s reigning rushing champion, has a calf strain that will keep him out of preseason games and practices the next few weeks.
“It’s alright. He didn’t pull it but you won’t see him this preseason,” Shanahan said of McCaffrey, who sustained a calf strain in the 49ers’ penultimate regular season game last year at Washington.
Hamstring strains have sidelined Elijah Mitchell and Isaac Guerendo, so to counter the backfield’s sudden attrition, Matt Breida re-signed and practiced Tuesday. “It was awesome to have Matt available, to get a legit player who’s had a hell of a career and been here before, too,” Shanahan said of Breida, who broke into the NFL with the 49ers from 2017-19.
Mitchell is expected to miss a week of action, and he’s been out the past 2 1/2 practices with his strain. Guerendo has been out since hurting his hamstring in the first practice of camp.
PRACTICE REPORT
Punter Mitch Wishnowsky missed a third straight practice with a calf strain.
Rest days were given to Bosa, defensive end Leonard Floyd, defensive tackle Javon Hargrave and fullback Kyle Juszczyk.
Pearsall caught Purdy’s first, 35-yard pass in stride and raced past Deommodore Lenoir and George Odum for a would-be touchdown.
Breida was hit hard in the backfield on his first carry, by defensive tackle Jordan Elliott.
In red zone drills, Purdy completed touchdown passes to Cowing, Jauan Jennings (twice), Chris Conley, and Jordan Mason.
Deommodore Lenoir intercepted a Brock Purdy pass intended for Conley.
Cowing, after missing over a week with a hamstring injury, had multiple catches and fielded punts alongside Trent Taylor.
Samuel continued his exhaustive camp and beat Ambry Thomas for a touchdown catch, with a mild push off to clear space.
Mason upended linebacker Fred Warner on a blitz pick-up late in practice.
Tight ends Brayden Willis and Eric Saubert made impressive, open-field catches.
Originally published at Cam Inman