Brandon Aiyuk runs through practice with the San Francisco 49ers

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — After one of the most turbulent and public contract negotiations in recent memory, San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk doesn’t think there’s any hard feelings left between him and the team.

When asked Tuesday whether he and the Niners can put behind them the discussion that led to the four-year, $120 million contract extension he signed Friday, Aiyuk acknowledged the role he played in extending the negotiations.

“I’m not going to lie, I ended up making it a little harder than it needed to be,” Aiyuk said in his first comments since signing his new deal. “I mean, it was like that for me, I’m not going to say all the time, but the last month I think we were pretty good.”

When the Niners returned to the field for Tuesday’s “bonus” workout in preparation for Monday night’s season opener against the visiting New York Jets, Aiyuk wore his No. 11 jersey and worked out in his usual spot with the other wideouts. It was Aiyuk’s first workout with the team since the Friday before Super Bowl LVIII, a 207-day stretch. Those days were largely marked by tense negotiations between the team and Aiyuk, which often led him to take to social media to air his grievances about not only how things were going, but how long they were taking.

At several points, Aiyuk attempted to pressure the Niners to make a deal.

In March, Aiyuk took to his social media platform to use emojis that translated to “money talks, bulls— walks” after general manager John Lynch insisted during league meetings that the team wanted to pay Aiyuk. The receiver sat out the team’s offseason program and failed to show up for the team’s full minicamp in early June, earning him $101,000 in fines.

Before San Francisco started training camp in July, Aiyuk officially requested a transfer and reported to training camp on time, along with the rest of his teammates. He said he was having back and neck issues that prevented him from practicing and the Niners could not fine him for not participating.

When asked if he would be willing to exert influence during the negotiations, Aiyuk did not shy away from doing so.

“A squeaky wheel sometimes has to be quiet and know when to squeak,” Aiyuk said. “(I was) just (finding that whole balance).”

During his incarceration, Aiyuk attended meetings and team activities but did not practice. On Tuesday, Aiyuk said it was strange to be there for everything and then watch his teammates get changed and go to practice without joining them.

“That was probably the hardest part of the whole thing, just because at that point you get the rest of the team involved,” Aiyuk said. “I’m here every day; they’re getting dressed and getting ready to go to practice, and I’m not.

“It was a little awkward, but I think it turned out okay.”

For most of the hold-in, Aiyuk and the Niners were uncertain how things would play out. Despite initial reluctance, the Niners eventually began making trade offers for the star player and allowed Aiyuk to negotiate contracts with interested teams.

Parameters of proposed trades with the New England Patriots and Cleveland Browns were quickly put in place, but Aiyuk turned down those landing spots. Another deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers was close, but again, neither the Niners nor Aiyuk really wanted to part ways.

Aiyuk said he had to “get my head around it” to consider that a trade was a possibility. And while Aiyuk said it’s “easy” to say now, he does agree that he always wanted to stay with the team he grew up rooting for in his hometown of Rocklin, California, about a three-hour drive northeast of the team’s facility.

“I think I just had a feeling of what I wanted,” Aiyuk said. “Not just in terms of money, but in all those things (like long-term success of the team and quarterback play), and ultimately I wanted to be here. Ultimately I’m here, so I’m happy. I’m good. I’m ready to go.”

With Aiyuk and left tackle Trent Williams back after the latter signed his own revised contract on Tuesday, the Niners have returned about 87% of their offensive snaps from a unit that ranked near the league high in many key categories last season.

The support Aiyuk and Williams provided was unmistakable in the locker room on Tuesday afternoon.

“A lot of energy in the building,” wideout Jauan Jennings said. “Having our team back means everything, and now we’re ready to go for Week 1.”

Aiyuk said several times Tuesday that he feels “light” now that the pressure of contract negotiations is no longer hanging over his head. As for his fitness, Aiyuk said he will be ready to play Monday night against the Jets after practicing three more times this week. He called himself “super excited,” “fresh” and “renewed.”

Aiyuk is looking to top his breakout season of 2023 this season, when he finished with 1,342 receiving yards and ranked second in the NFL in yards per reception (17.9) and first in yards per target (12.9), earning him a spot on the All-Pro team.

Aiyuk also acknowledged there’s added pressure to surpass that production now that he’s one of the highest-paid wideouts in the league.

“But that’s why I’m going to get paid the way I am,” Aiyuk said. “Because that’s the type of player that I think I am, and that’s the player that I want to continue to be, and that’s the player that I want to be. I think it’s more that I put that pressure on myself.”