San Francisco star receiver Brandon Aiyuk was notably absent from the start of practice on Wednesday, despite being cleared by team doctors to participate. This absence has intensified the ongoing contract dispute that has loomed over the 49ers since the offseason. Aiyuk has been holding out of training camp, seeking a long-term extension or a potential trade, with a back injury cited as the official reason by coach Kyle Shanahan.
Both Shanahan and general manager John Lynch confirmed that Aiyuk had received medical clearance to practice, but he was not present on the field during the open portion of practice. Aiyuk had managed to avoid fines during training camp by attending meetings and reporting to the team, but his failure to practice after being cleared could lead to potential disciplinary action.
