Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk made an appearance at the football stadium today, joining his San Francisco 49ers teammates for the preseason finale against the Las Vegas Raiders. Unlike the previous preseason opener in Tennessee, Aiyuk attended the game, though he will not play, marking a significant moment since his last appearance in a 49ers uniform during the Super Bowl loss to the Kansas City Chiefs at the same Allegiant Stadium on February 11.
Aiyuk entered the locker room alongside fellow wide receiver Deebo Samuel about two hours before the game, as initially reported. During warm-ups, he was seen wearing casual all-black attire and interacted with Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce on the sidelines. He also spoke with 49ers team chaplain Earl Smith and greeted Raiders receiver Davante Adams. Aiyuk concluded his sideline activity by posing for selfies with fans holding sideline passes.
After requesting a trade a month ago, Aiyuk has not participated in any of the 49ers’ 19 training camp practices, opting instead for a “hold-in” strategy due to ongoing contract negotiations. He was absent from practice earlier this week after being seen observing from the sidelines during the previous week’s sessions.
Neither general manager John Lynch nor coach Kyle Shanahan provided an update on Aiyuk’s situation during their radio appearances this week. While the 49ers allowed Aiyuk and his representatives to explore trade possibilities, efforts with the New England Patriots and Cleveland Browns fell through, and a potential deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers hinges on Aiyuk’s approval. He remains under contract with the team at a salary of $14.1 million, which is less than what he seeks in a new deal.
In related news, left tackle Trent Williams has yet to report to training camp after a month, incurring additional fines as a result. His holdout has cost him $4.15 million that cannot be reduced or waived per the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement. Additionally, wide receiver Ricky Pearsall, the 49ers’ first-round draft pick, has not played in any preseason games due to a hamstring injury followed by a shoulder issue that has raised concerns regarding his long-term health. He has been conditioning on the sidelines and exhibited no signs of injury while throwing the football this week.