Brandon Aiyuk Has 49ers Seeing Red, But Will That Force a Trade?

The Brandon Aiyuk saga continues in Santa Clara, with the star wide receiver taking his most forward step yet in instigating conflict with the San Francisco 49ers, but it remains to be seen if that will cause a trade to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Niners general manager John Lynch spoke with the media on Wednesday before practice, revealing that the team doctors had checked out Aiyuk’s alleged back injury and deemed him fit to practice. Lynch suggested that he was expecting Aiyuk to practice on Wednesday.

“At some point, you gotta play,” Lynch said, but he admitted that he didn’t really know what would happen.

👀 John Lynch when asked if he has communicated with Brandon Aiyuk that he is expected to practice:

“At some point you gotta play”#49ers pic.twitter.com/HX90F51wVj

— Kevin Krueger (@kevinkruegs) August 28, 2024

“We’ll see. I think you’ll see right with me. I know he’s here today. And that’s the expectation.”

In his most defiant act yet of his weeks-long hold-in, Aiyuk didn’t practice. He attended meetings. He was at the facility. He just didn’t step onto the practice field.  The 49ers taking the step to medically clear him suggests they’re ready to start to fight about Aiyuk not practicing. The mandate was clear: “You’re healthy. Knock it off. It’s time to come to work.”

Head coach Kyle Shanahan, speaking before practice as well, said he’ll deal with discipline for Aiyuk “if that happens.”

Now, it seems clear that the 49ers are going to fine Aiyuk for not practicing. He likely knew that when he decided to skip the session, so it’s not going to come as a shock. It’s also not likely to change anything. The first fine available to the 49ers through the CBA is a paltry $6,400.

49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk celebrates after a touchdown, Sept. 11, 2023 – Ed Thompson / Steelers Now

We appear to be well past the point of the 49ers being able to strong-arm their way out of this situation.

In many ways, that’s exactly what Aiyuk wants. If the 49ers can’t threaten him, the choices are for them to pay him or trade him, and either way, he gets what he wants. 

That doesn’t mean a breakup is imminent. Lynch went out of his way to say that relationships can be mended.

“I’ve seen these things look dire before and they can quickly turn,” he said. “That gives you hope. We’ve been in these situations before and those things can quickly be forgotten.”

That sounds like a general manager that wants Aiyuk on his team, and that should be made clear by his actions. Lynch is doing everything possible to avoid trading Aiyuk. Everything, that is, except match the Steelers’ offer and pay him what he wants. 

In many ways, Aiyuk holding in, and still being around the facility every day, has been a genius move. He gets to show up and push buttons all day every, day. He knows the 49ers are going to either have to make an irrational decision or one they don’t want to make — trade him or pay him.

What better way to get someone to do something irrational than to make them so mad they’re seeing red?

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