Brandon Aiyuk won’t be suiting up for the San Francisco 49ers soon. The star wide receiver has reported to training camp, but hasn’t taken part in activities as he awaits a new contract.
Up to this point, Aiyuk has stated that he’s not working out with the team due to an injury. While most people agree that isn’t the case, coach Kyle Shanahan must adhere to protocol and let him recover as long as he says that is the case.
Despite the contract saga impacting the 49ers offseason, Shanahan is maintaining a positive outlook.
“I think it has to do with when they have injuries and stuff,” Shanahan said. “I don’t sit there and kind of play that game.
“That’s how the league works right now. That’s how the rules are. You have a hold-in, guys usually have something wrong with them, so they can keep doing that. And so, I just coach the team.”
With fans and media calling Aiyuk’s decision to sit out a hold-in, Shanahan has shied away from using that label.
“I’m just saying when you guys call it a hold-in, and I’m not disagreeing with you guys on that, but people say that they’re hurt,” Shanahan said. “I think B.A. has a sore back right now and it is what it is.”
Given that back in July, Shanahan made it known that Aiyuk is dealing with a sore neck and back, the coach has shown a willingness to protect his WR.
That’s a far cry from how Shanahan used to deal with his players, as he previously showed he wasn’t afraid to put his players in the doghouse.
While speaking with Kay Adams on the ‘Up & Adams’ show, Deebo Samuel noted that the 49ers boss was never shy to lay into his players.
“Overall, Kyle hasn’t changed,” Samuel said. “The way we practice, the way he approaches players. I said he has gotten a little soft on players since my first two years.
Me and [Brandon Aiyuk] used to joke around with him like, ‘Bro, you done got soft, like how you coach people.’ Because me and [Aiyuk’s] first two years, you used to go to practice and be like, ‘Bro, we got to deal with Kyle today.
“Now he’ll be like, ‘Hey guys, good job! But you can do this better.’ It wasn’t like that my first two years.”