The San Francisco 49ers are dealing with some serious uncertainty after star wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk reportedly has asked to be traded.
He has been looking to receive a lucrative contract extension over the past few months, but the sides have not been able to reach an agreement.
With 49ers training camp just days away from fully opening and rookies already required to report, the team was dealt another dose of adversity when Ricky Pearsall, a wide receiver selected in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, was placed on the non-football injury list, per David Lombardi of The Athletic.
The 49ers declared rookie WR Ricky Pearsall, their first-round pick, for the non-football injury list (NFI) — per the league wire. That list indicates Pearsall got hurt away the facility (it could’ve occurred during football-related workouts). 49ers’ rookies reported for training…
— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) July 16, 2024
Fans are hoping that Pearsall can become a worthy replacement for Aiyuk if he does indeed leave the 49ers.
The 23-year-old had 65 receptions for 965 yards and four touchdowns last season with the University of Florida, and he ran the 40-yard dash in a robust 4.41 seconds at the NFL Scouting Combine a few months ago.
San Francisco has drafted well in recent years, which has allowed it to remain very competitive even as older stars have aged or left the team.
The Niners have reached the Super Bowl in two of the past five seasons, only to blow 10-point leads both times and lose to the Kansas City Chiefs, and fans have grown restless for a Vince Lombardi Trophy.
The franchise hasn’t won it all since the 1994 NFL season, and if Aiyuk does get traded soon, it would likely mean longer odds of winning it all anytime soon.
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