Brandon Aiyuk had a challenging start to the 2024 season with the San Francisco 49ers, as the team secured a 32-19 win against the New York Jets on Monday Night Football. Aiyuk managed only two receptions for 28 yards out of five targets during the game.
Just before halftime, with the 49ers leading 13-7 and looking to extend their lead, quarterback Brock Purdy aimed a pass to Aiyuk in the end zone. Although the ball was in Aiyuk’s grasp, he failed to secure the catch, forcing San Francisco to settle for a field goal instead.
In an unexpected turn, Aiyuk dropped two passes in the first half, a notably disappointing statistic considering he recorded only two drops in the entirety of the 2023 season. This performance drew disappointment from fans, particularly after Aiyuk recently signed a substantial four-year, $120 million contract extension on August 29.
During the preseason, Aiyuk held out for a new contract, which limited his time to build chemistry with Purdy leading into the season opener. 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan had hinted earlier in the week that Aiyuk might see a slightly reduced snap count against the Jets due to the recent resolution of his contract situation.