49ers GM provides positive update on injured WR's recovery from ACL
49ers GM provides positive update on injured WR's recovery from ACL
Before the 2024 season started, the San Francisco 49ers gave wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, who had been holding in for a new deal, a four-year, $120 million extension, that made him one of the highest paid players in the league at his position.
However, after just seven games and 25 receptions for 374 yards, Aiyuk tore his ACL and MCL against the Kansas City Chiefs, ending his season and putting the start of his 2025 campaign in jeopardy.
With San Francisco also trading wide receiver Deebo Samuel to the Washington Commanders for a fifth-round selection (used on Oregon running back Jordan James) in the 2025 NFL draft, Aiyuk's recovery is very important for the team's immediate success.
Late last week, 49ers general manager John Lynch appeared on "The Pat McAfee Show" and gave a positive update on Aiyuk's rehab process as organized team activities came to a close.
'Brandon's doing a tremendous job coming back," Lynch said. "These guys that are incredibly skilled athletes, they tend to heal a lot faster. It's kind of incredible how well he's healing, and he's putting in the work. We're proud of Brandon, and we're looking forward to him being part of this team moving forward. We made a big investment in him. We're proud to have him part of our franchise, and looking for big things from him. And we're gonna let him get right before we get him back on that field. But he's an important part of this team.'
Aiyuk's been one of the best receivers in the league since San Francisco took him in the first round (No. 25 overall) of the 2020 NFL draft out of Arizona State. In 69 career games over five years, he's caught 294 passes for 4,305 yards and 25 touchdowns while being the team's second or third target, behind Samuel and tight end George Kittle.
If he's not good to go for Week 1, recently-extended quarterback Brock Purdy could be stepping on the field with Ricky Pearsall, Jauan Jennings, Demarcus Robinson and Jacob Cowing as his top four wideouts. That's not exactly ideal for a team that's looking to crawl out of the basement of their division and make it back to the postseason in 2025.
More 49ers: Undrafted free agent calls 49ers position coach 'the best in the business'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
20 minutes ago
- Newsweek
49ers' George Kittle Fires Back at NFL Over Tight End Disrespect
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. The evolution of NFL players' pay continues to change season after season. With non-quarterback positions like pass rusher resetting the market at $40 million per season, which is what Cleveland Browns star Myles Garrett received, there are more skill players questioning when the big contracts will come. More news: Vikings' JJ McCarthy Just Got a Big Update From NFL Insider One such player is current San Francisco 49ers star tight end George Kittle. Kittle has been at the top of his game for multiple seasons, and he is viewed as the best tight end in the game, alongside Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce. Though the tight end position has evolved into more of a pass-catching style, similar to the skills that both Kittle and Kelce have, but that is not where the position stops. George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers warms up prior to the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on November 10, 2024 in Tampa, Florida. George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers warms up prior to the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on November 10, 2024 in Tampa, Florida. Photo byMore news: Packers Urged to Consider Signing Former Bears Key Defender Tight ends are often called on for blocking packages when it comes to plays, regardless of whether they are run or pass. Due to being an offensive position that can do it all, Kittle believes the NFL does not pay the position what it should get. "The only way for the tight end market to continue to grow is if everybody's getting paid," Kittle told The Dan Patrick Show on Monday. "That's the only way to do it. You can't just have one guy do it and then it just sits for four years because then you're stuck and it's stagnant and no one's getting paid. We want everybody, I want everybody to have great seasons. I want everybody to have great games, just not against the 49ers. Throughout the rest of the season, they can play as well as they want to because I want guys to get paid, to keep bumping up that market so by the time that Brock Bowers is doing his contract in three years, he's going for over $20 million, which he will. That's just the whole point." Kittle also delves into Tigh End University, which was started by Kittle, Kelce and Greg Olsen to help educate and elevate the position. The belief is that the three-day program can lead to a much more evolved player. "When Tight End U started, I think the top of the market was 15 (million dollars), and now we're almost at 20," he said. "So we're continually growing it. As a tight end and as a position who does everything, yeah, I think we should be making more money, but we're working on it," Kittle added. Right now, Kittle is making $19.1 million per season, which is the top of the position. Arizona Cardinals' Trey McBride is second with $19 million per season. Below that is Kelce, who makes $17.125 million per season. Kittle has a point that the tight end position has evolved to include catching, blocking, and so much more. If receivers are making $20 million per season and more, then a position that is responsible for that and blocking should theoretically make more. More NFL: Saints Sign Former Super Bowl Champion RB in Massive Free Agency Move For more ont he 49ers, head to Newsweek Sports.
USA Today
26 minutes ago
- USA Today
Cleveland Browns had dramatic 2025 draft. How does rookie class look?
Cleveland Browns had dramatic 2025 draft. How does rookie class look? Show Caption Hide Caption Shedeur Sanders not feeling pressure from his doubters After sliding in the NFL Draft, Shedeur Sanders explains why he's not bothered by his many doubters as Browns career begins. Sports Pulse The Cleveland Browns' trades and selections became the story of the 2025 NFL draft (and beyond). In addition to drafting a pair of rookie quarterbacks – Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, the biggest name in the draft – two rounds apart, Cleveland general manager Andrew Berry traded the No. 2 overall pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars for a future first-round pick and the fifth overall spot, which they used to take defensive tackle Mason Graham (the Jags drafted two-way player and Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter at No. 2). Cleveland also picked up a second- and fourth-round pick to supplement their draft class, which also featured a pair of running backs and preceded the departure of fan favorite Nick Chubb. USA TODAY Sports analyst Nate Davis gave the Browns an "incomplete" for their draft grade – better to judge a year from now after the Browns use that extra first-round selection. But we can offer some insight into the current rookies on the roster after three days of minicamp, which did not feature full pads or anything close to resembling game speed. Fighting through an embarrassing situation Mason Graham, on the second day of rookie minicamp in May, went viral for appearing to lose his lunch as he prepared for a drill. What people didn't talk about, defensive line coach Jacques Cesaire said, was that the Michigan product finished the rep. 'Here's a kid that, every day, he got better," Cesaire said. "Every day he came out here running to the ball as fast as he could.' Graham has been working on his pass-rush moves since transitioning to the professional ranks and has also spent a lot of time understanding what is expected of him now that he is an "attack" defense rather than a "read and react" defense deployed by the Wolverines. Cesaire noted that the coaches actually have a say in the Browns' pre-draft process. The more Graham tape he watched, the more he realized Graham was capable of playing in Cleveland's scheme. 'I think he's hungry," defensive end Myles Garrett said. "He's pretty quiet but I see him watching a lot. He's learning. He's really inquisitive, staying near to make sure that he hears every detail and just picking up on things, taking things from the meeting room to the playing field.' Former walk-on makes it to the Browns With the first pick of the second round, the Browns kept addressing the defensive side of the ball by taking Carson Schwesinger, a former walk-on with the UCLA Bruins. But don't count him out as an option to wear the "green dot" and be the person who communicates defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz's play call to the defense – even as a rookie. Linebackers coach Jason Tarver said Schwesinger is wired for the job because he's an intelligent player who wants to do everything correctly. But he also understands that when plays break down, it's time to run to the ball and put the ballcarrier on the ground. That's all part of his "unique feel," Tarver said. Browns' 'high-level' quarterback room has Super Bowl MVP, 2 rookies and some fun 'I think just how he's wired and how he approaches problems and solving problems is really unique," Tarver said. What also impresses Tarver is how well Schwesinger takes care of his body for a younger player. Schwesinger is "incredibly flexible" which is combined with his strength and ability to keep his feet. But as far as first impressions go, he's demonstrated that he's focused on making the next rep his best one. 'That's usually where a rookie will struggle, where he's worried about what he just did and hangs onto it," Tarver said. "He figures it out, asks great questions, runs to the ball.' 'We all out here in pajamas' As running backs coach Duce Staley noted, any first impressions have to be taken with a grain of salt at this stage in the offseason. "We all out here in pajamas,' Staley said. 'When we put on some armor I'll let you know.' Kevin Stefanski is a QB guru. Now he's coaching Browns' Shedeur Sanders With the 36th overall pick, the Browns took Ohio State running back Quinshon Judkins. Fresh off winning a national championship, Judkins has a durable build and looks primed to punish defenders with physicality. Cleveland's fourth-round choice at the position, Dylan Sampson out of Tennessee, is another young player doing "an awesome job," Staley said. He's been working with passing game coordinator Chad O'Shea to become a factor through the air. "Just being able to take his game and expand it," Staley said.
USA Today
31 minutes ago
- USA Today
On3's Mike Singer projects that Notre Dame will land 2026 WR Devin Fitzgerald
On3's Mike Singer projects that Notre Dame will land 2026 WR Devin Fitzgerald While Notre Dame football didn't land any commitments this past weekend, as head coach Marcus Freeman says, there will be delayed gratification. If On3's Mike Singer is correct, then the Irish will be landing Devin Fitzgerald, the son of NFL and Pittsburgh legend Larry Fitzgerald. The 6-foot, 2-inch and 195-pound prospects is the nation's No. 483 overall prospect in the 247Sports Composite, and while the ranking might not be as high as you'd like to see, that doesn't tell the whole story. Devin, like his father, is a great route running, and has been taught the nuances of being a wide receiver by one of the best to ever do it. You'll be hard pressed to find a better mentor than Larry, and he'd most likely bring some of that knowledge with him to South Bend. The elder Fitzgerald is already a friend of the program, having spoken with the team a few years back. If Notre Dame is able to add Devin to its 2026 recruiting class, they'd not only get a great player, but another former NFL father with loads of experience and knowledge to help as well.
