Shanahan shares 49ers contingency plan if Aiyuk doesn’t play in Week 1

Shanahan shares 49ers’ contingency plan if Aiyuk doesn’t play in Week 1 originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Time is running out.

And if the 49ers don’t reach a new contract with Brandon Aiyuk soon, the star wide receiver may not be on the field in Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season. That’s a scenario coach Kyle Shanahan has considered, he told KNBR’s “Tolbert & Copes” show on Wednesday.

“That’s why we’re all competing now,” Shanahan said. “We’ve got Jauan (Jennings), who’s done a lot of good things for us here over the years. When guys are healthy, he’s always been our slot receiver. But we’ve also used him outside. He’s always been able to play outside, and he’s probably the first one we’d look at because he’s been our No. 3 receiver since we’ve been here, and sometimes, in big moments, we’ve used him as a No. 1 player.”

Aiyuk has yet to play in a preseason game and has missed the entire 49ers’ training camp, which ended Wednesday, as a “hold in” seeking a new deal with San Francisco or a trade to another team that will pay him what he wants. The saga has dragged on all offseason, but a Monday Night Football game with the New York Jets is coming up on Sept. 9, and Aiyuk will likely need some time to prepare for the game.

Jennings is the best option to play opposite Deebo Samuel if Aiyuk doesn’t play against Aaron Rodgers and company. However, Shanahan also mentioned a number of San Francisco’s other wideouts, noting that the team has plenty of depth.

“Chris Conley has had a great camp,” Shanahan continued. “He came up big for us last year, did a great job last year and made some plays for the playoffs, in the playoffs and in the Super Bowl. He’s been on a lot of teams where he’s done it for a while. And then we have these rookies that are all pushing, that I know they’ll eventually get there, but they’re a little behind with their injuries. But they’re guys that we believe in, guys that are made of the right stuff.

“And then we’ve got a lot of depth here with just guys that we’ve brought in from other teams, that have been on other teams’ rosters before. We’ve got guys that have been on the back end of our roster and are trying to do that again with Danny (Gray), and Ronnie Bell, and things like that.”

There’s no denying that Aiyuk is a key cog in the 49ers’ offense, but Shanahan has clearly been thinking about how San Francisco will handle things if his absence extends into the regular season. But a solution may be in sight after NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported Tuesday, citing sources, that the 49ers spoke with Aiyuk again on Monday and are moving forward with a long-term extension.

As the twists and turns of this ordeal continue, Shanahan seems as exhausted by the subject as the Believers.

“So much has changed,” Shanahan laughed when asked for an update on the Aiyuk negotiations. “No, I’m just kidding. No new updates. Sorry to keep being so boring. I wish I said something else, but nothing has changed.”

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