The Pittsburgh Steelers have been caught up in a back-and-forth saga with San Francisco 49ers star wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk for much of the offseason. Aiyuk has created tension with the 49ers as he seeks a new deal that would make him one of the highest-paid wide receivers in the league. The 49ers have struggled to reach an agreement with Aiyuk, who has requested a trade.
Darren Yamashita / USA TODAY Sports
Brandon Aiyuk looks on before a game with the 49ers.
Despite several close calls, a trade to the Steelers has yet to materialize. The organization anticipated Aiyuk's presence at practice on Wednesday. If he skipped practice then it would keep the Steelers hopes alive of a possible trade for Aiyuk. 49ers' Head Coach Kyle Shanahan was expecting Aiyuk to practice since he was cleared.
Very interesting Shanahan presser just now. Said team doctors have cleared Aiyuk, who had said he had a back injury. I asked what happens if Aiyuk refuses to practice now that he's cleared. Shanahan said he'll deal with that if it happens.
— Tim Kawakami (@timkawakami) August 28, 2024
John Lynch due up in 30 minutes. https://t.co/UMPWkNz3xf
General Manager John Lynch also spoke to the media about his hopes that Aiyuk would finally practice. If he did practice this would effectively end his hold in.
49ers GM John Lynch said he expects hold-in WR Brandon Aiyuk to practice today.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 28, 2024
Asked what happens if he doesn’t, Lynch replied, “Then we’ll deal with that.”
Steelers Possible Trade Target Brandon Aiyuk Skips Practice
Reporters close to the team are now reporting that Aiyuk was notably absent from practice. This development adds a new twist to the ongoing saga and could potentially improve the Steelers' chances of finalizing a trade for Aiyuk.
49ers practice is underway and no sign of Brandon Aiyuk in warmups
— Cam Inman (@CamInman) August 28, 2024
Media no longer allowed to watch full-team drills (which Aiyuk not expected in yet)
When asked of that possibility and if discipline would ensue, Shanahan and Lynch both said they’d only address it if happened
The 49ers' leadership was clear in their expectation that Aiyuk would attend practice. His absence is telling of the current state of their contract negotiations, indicating that he remains far from satisfied. The increased drama within the 49ers organization may work in Pittsburgh's favor, enhancing their prospects of landing the wide receiver.
Associated Press
49ers' Brandon Aiyuk runs on the field before a game.
The Steelers' wide receiver room has faced significant criticism this offseason. Adding a top-tier wide receiver like Aiyuk could dramatically improve the situation. The Steelers have shown strong interest in trading for Aiyuk and reportedly have the contract details worked out to satisfy him. The final obstacle is agreeing on a deal that the 49ers will accept.
Omar Khan has remained firm on his offer and seems to believe that the 49ers are running out of options. Despite the pressure, Khan has not yielded to the 49ers' demands.
Matt Freed / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
General Manager Omar Khan speaks to the press at the Pittsburgh Steelers' UPMC Sports Complex in Pittsburgh, PA.
It will be interesting to see how the situation develops with Aiyuk missing practice. The Steelers are still hopeful about securing a trade for Aiyuk, which could significantly impact their season. Steeler Nation will now watch and hope that Khan gets the deal done.
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