The 49ers have high hopes for Brandon Aiyuk. It’s why they mortgaged a significant portion of their 2020 draft capital to move up six spots in the first round to pick him. Head coach Kyle Shanahan went on to call him his favorite receiver in a stacked draft class. Aiyuk hasn’t disappointed early in camp.
He was one of the standouts Saturday on the first day of camp according to reporters on site. He followed it up Sunday with another good day. Aiyuk hauled in multiple throws for big gains during the second day of full practice:
A strong day for rookie WR Brandon Aiyuk, who continues to make a strong first impression. He caught a deep ball in 11's from Jimmy Garoppolo against Jason Verrett. Later added would be big gains from Garoppolo on a dig and a crosser. He and Garoppolo in tune early.
— Nick Wagoner (@nwagoner) August 16, 2020
The faster Jimmy Garoppolo and Aiyuk build a rapport the better it is for the 49ers’ passing game. Shanahan’s offense isn’t easy for young receivers, but the head coach said after Saturday’s session that the former Arizona State Sun Devil is picking things up quicker than normal.
“He was very impressive on the zoom meetings. Just his attention to detail. But, since we’ve gotten here just going through these walkthroughs and stuff, you can tell he knows how to practice like a pro,” Shanahan told reporters in a video conference. “You can tell he comes prepared every day. He’s not a guy you’ve had to teach how to act or teach how important it is to learn this stuff. You can tell he understood that before he got here and since we’ve been around him, you can tell he’s been working and that’s why he’s further ahead, I think, than a lot of rookies would be at this time.”
Another standout day Sunday further confirms Shanahan’s thoughts on Aiyuk, and his rapid growth could be a difference maker for San Francisco early in the year, especially if Deebo Samuel misses time with a Jones fracture in his foot. There’s still a long way to go before Aiyuk is in the starting lineup and making an impact for the 49ers. He’s off to a very good start though through two full training camp practices.
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