Brandon Aiyuk stays vague about future with 49ers in wake of Nice Bowl loss, cryptic social media posts – Yahoo
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk had a aloof showing in the team’s 25-22 beyond fashioned time loss to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs in Nice Bowl LVIII. Since then, the chatter surrounding his future has been quite loud.
The 25-year-feeble is headed into the final year of his rookie contract because the 49ers picked up his fifth-year option last April. On Tuesday, he addressed newshounds in the 49ers’ locker room. Clearly emotional and covering his eyes with shades, he admitted that the loss changed into the most refined defeat of his profession. But he stayed vague about where he hopes his profession will rob him subsequent.
“If that is the correct trudge, yeah,” he answered when asked if he’d prefer to live in San Francisco. In response to a follow-up seek files from about what the correct trudge would stumble on love, he acknowledged, “Being a champion.”
He changed into round to face his locker and acknowledged “That is all I got,” when a seek files from about his walk with the team almost brought him to tears.
Aiyuk recorded three catches on six targets for 49 yards in Sunday’s loss, a departure from the efficiency that seen his miraculous receive spark San Francisco’s comeback in opposition to the Detroit Lions in the NFC championship.
Aiyuk is a doable alternate candidate if he and the team cannot agree on a prolonged-term extension, and social media posts from the wideout and his interior circle after the Nice Bowl suggest that negotiations may per chance per chance well honest no longer be easy.
On Monday after the loss, Aiyuk posted a unlit Instagram account captioned “Develop no longer neglect what got you there” with sign emojis.
Earlier that day, his female friend, Rochelle Searight, posted a TikTok that implied Aiyuk’s days with the 49ers are numbered.
“This is in a position to per chance had been the last day we touched foot on Levi’s Stadium,” she acknowledged in the video, “Because we may per chance per chance well honest no longer be out here subsequent season.” She captioned the video “Cosy 49ers Hotfoot Day of Shame,” explaining that she changed into picking up Aiyuk after the Nice Bowl heartbreaker.
Even Aiyuk’s buddy and feeble teammate, Draysean Hudson, made public comments about Aiyuk’s future in a sequence of Instagram reviews.
“Right here is the correct identical reason we leaving San Francisco,” Hudson wrote. “Thanks 49ers for drafting my brother we’re eternally grateful. BA to Vegas.”
Hudson went on to put up a video of 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy being compelled by Chiefs kind out Chris Jones and throwing an incompletion whereas Aiyuk changed into wide open for a touchdown.
“Why does your All-Legitimate 1300-yard receiver have 3 catches in the Nice Bowl,” Hudson added with a pair of eyeball emojis.
Aiyuk entered the league when the 49ers drafted him with the No. 25 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft out of Arizona Convey. He has posted four solid seasons with the team since then, recording a total of three,931 yards and 25 touchdowns in his profession. This season, he snagged 75 catches for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan and fashioned supervisor John Lynch had been asked about Aiyuk during their end-of-season news conference on Tuesday.
“For certain you prefer to have a man love Brandon Aiyuk to be a bit of you transferring forward,” Lynch acknowledged, “We’re extremely prideful in what he’s turn into and he have to be as effectively.”
Lynch added that the team has lots to prioritize in a battle in opposition to the salary cap this offseason.
“The more correct avid gamers you find, the more challenging decisions you have,” he acknowledged. “Brandon’s been an fabulous player for us, Kyle [Shanahan] calls him a warrior the total time on account of the formulation he goes out and competes. That shines thru someone whether you’re a trained or whether you’re a fan. That you just can sight the ardour that he plays with.”