Tag: Brandon Aiyuk

WR unexpectedly became position 49ers must address in offseason

More pass catchers? More pass catchers.

The San Francisco 49ers after the 2024 draft looked set up in their receiving corps for at least a couple of seasons.

Brandon Aiyuk was coming off an All-Pro season. Deebo Samuel had a strong 2023 campaign and was primed to thrive alongside another All-Pro. Jauan Jennings, an integral if seldom-used piece of the 49ers offense, was signed through 2025. San Francisco also drafted Ricky Pearsall in the first round and Jacob Cowing in the fourth round.

That was a receiving corps with a good mix of veterans and young players and a good variance in skill sets. Then the 2024 season played out and now that plan at receiver is full of question marks that may push San Francisco to add another player at the position either in free agency or early in the draft.

Aiyuk is coming off a major knee injury and his status for the start of the regular season is in the air. Samuel is coming off his worst year as a pro. Pearsall flashed when he got more opportunities toward the end of the season, but he’s still a question mark with only 11 games of NFL experience. Cowing is an even bigger question mark going into his second year after struggling to crack the rotation as a rookie.

Jennings is the only player who doesn’t seemingly have any questions hanging over his head after he had his best year as a pro, falling only 25 receiving yards shy of 1,000.

There’s a version of the 49ers receiving corps that’s very good in 2025, but it relies on a lot of things going right. They’d need Aiyuk returning at something close to full strength, Samuel to bounce back in his Age 29 season, Pearsall to breakout in Year 2, Cowing to find his footing as a pro, and Jennings to replicate his career year.

San Francisco would be taking on a significant risk in hoping all of those things to go right. They can mitigate some of that risk by bringing in another receiver or two in the offseason to help fill out their depth and insulate themselves from one or two seasons from another receiver getting off track.

They shouldn’t use another first-round pick on the position, and they shouldn’t offer a massive contract to a free agent, but they should be diligent in finding a reliable pass catcher they can bring in to help avoid a potential catastrophe lurking at a position that looked set going into last season.

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Return of injured All-Pro would major lift to another 49ers WR

Nobody may benefit more from Brandon Aiyuk’s return than Deebo Samuel.

There’s no question that missing wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk for most of the 2024 campaign contributed to the San Francisco 49ers’ offensive issues.

Aiyuk individually is an excellent player whose contributions when he’s at his best make him one of the 10 best receivers in the sport. It’s why he earned a Second-Team All-Pro nod for his breakout 2023 campaign.

His early-season struggles followed by his absence because of a knee injury he suffered in Week 7 were a significant blow to the 49ers’ passing game. His absence may have also been a factor in wide receiver Deebo Samuel’s struggles in the passing game last season.

Pro Football Network noted Samuel’s receiving production plummeted without Aiyuk on the field:

Deebo Samuel had 19 receptions on 30 targets for 310 yards across 231 snaps when playing alongside Brandon Aiyuk. Without Aiyuk, he recorded 32 receptions on 51 targets for 360 yards over 422 snaps.

Without Aiyuk the 49ers never had a receiving threat like him. Jauan Jennings put together an outstanding year in an expanded role, but he didn’t force teams to alter their coverages against him the way Aiyuk did.

That undoubtedly had an impact on Samuel whose skill set as a pure receiver has never been the special part of his game. Without a No. 1 across from him it makes sense if he struggled to get open and produce as a pass catcher.

On the other hand, there were some other clear issues for Samuel last season that went beyond Aiyuk’s absence. He had a difficult time breaking tackles and generating yards after the catch when he did snag a reception, and his production as a runner cratered.

Perhaps there were injury issues for Samuel that slowed him down some in 2024, but it’s clear he’ll benefit at least a little from Aiyuk’s eventual return in 2025.

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Tyreek Hill teases Steelers as potential landing spot on social media

Tyreek Hill sparks Steelers trade rumors after posting a video with a Steelers helmet subtly visible in the background.

Fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers have been down the ‘WR trade rumor road’ before. Brandon Aiyuk, Davante Adams, D.K. Metcalf, and Cooper Kupp were all linked to the Black and Gold as potential trade candidates throughout the 2024 season.

However, the Steelers ultimately decided on a receiver who demanded less trade compensation—former New York Jets WR Mike Williams.

Another receiver from the AFC East has been linked as a potential 2025 trade candidate for the Pittsburgh Steelers this past week: Dolphins superstar WR Tyreek Hill.

Hill recently alluded to being done with the Miami Dolphins after quitting during the Week 18 contest and changing his profile picture to mimic former Steelers WR Antonio Brown.

Adding further speculation to a potential Steelers-Dolphins trade, Hill recently uploaded a video to social media featuring a Steelers helmet hidden in the background.


The Pittsburgh Steelers desperately need to upgrade their wide receiver room heading into the 2025 offseason, and Hill—even at 30 years old—would be incredible in the Steel City.

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Brandon Aiyuk update has good news on recovery from knee injury

No timeline on Brandon Aiyuk’s return, but the update on him was good.

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk has a long way to go in his recovery from a knee injury he suffered Week 7. However, head coach Kyle Shanahan had a positive update on Aiyuk when he spoke with media Saturday.

Aiyuk, who tore his ACL and MCL after taking a low hit against the Kansas City Chiefs, had surgery and is in the team facility going through his rehab.

“Yeah, he’s plugging along with that,” said Shanahan. “The rehab guys I don’t see too much of. They come in early in the morning and they’re usually out of here before we get off the practice field. But he went to L.A. for surgery, did the rehab there for a while, but he’s been back here like the last month or so going through his process, working hard. It’s a long process, but he’s on track.”

There’s still no clear date on when the 49ers expect Aiyuk to return, but his early progress is a good sign. The key will be ensuring the 2023 All-Pro doesn’t have any setbacks that might cost him even more time. Ideally Aiyuk would return at some point during training camp so he could ramp up for the regular season, but the team also isn’t going to rush the 26-year-old back into action.

Aiyuk hauled in 25 receptions for 374 yards in seven games in 2024. He’s up to 294 catches, 4,305 yards and 25 touchdowns in 69 games across four seasons.

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Who is newest Commander, K.J. Osborn?

Getting to know new Commanders WR K.J. Osborn.

The Commanders, having lost their third and fourth leading receivers to injury, signed receiver K.J. Osborn on Wednesday.

Osborn was available because the New England Patriots released him just one day earlier. After playing his first four NFL seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, Osborn had signed a one-year deal with the Patriots as a free agent.

Playing in only seven games, Osborn had a very unfulfilling season with the Patriots. He only caught seven receptions for 57 yards and one touchdown, averaging 8.1 yards per catch.

However, with Noah Brown and Austin Ekeler missing from Jayden Daniels’ toolbox, Commanders general manager Adam Peters wasted no time. Choosing not to simply wait and see if Jamison Crowder could make it back to health, Peters went outside the team to look for an answer.

Osborn played college ball at Buffalo and then the Miami Hurricanes. He was drafted in the fifth round (176th overall) of the 2020 NFL draft.

The Commanders really need help, and Peters and Dan Quinn are hoping Osborn can be a quick fix. He seems to have been a good teammate and locker-room guy in New England.

After releasing Osborn, Pats Coach Jarod Mayo offered this: “It was a mutual thing,” said Mayo. “Even when he was inactive, he was just a great professional, a great person, and a great leader. It just didn’t work out, and we decided to part ways.”

Osborn has also proven himself to be both courageous and unselfish. A couple of years ago, visiting friends in Austin, TX, Osborn, a passenger in an Uber, pulled over to the side of the road to assist and pull a driver out of his burning car.

Osborn is still only age 27, and with the exception of Crowder, he has more experience than the other Commanders receivers to whom the Commanders would be looking to step up in replacing Noah Brown.

In his last three seasons in Minnesota, Osborn caught 50, 60, and 48 passes for 655, 650, and 540 yards, respectively.

It is also worth noting that Osborn does have some NFL experience returning kickoffs and punts. It is not extensive, but he has returned 14 kickoffs and 11 punts.

Osborn was involved in a 2020 draft trade that saw the Vikings receive Jeff Gladney, Osborn, and D.J. Wonnum, while the 49ers received a draft pick that they used to select Brando Aiyuk.

Could Steelers meet the high asking price for latest WR trade target?

Insider Tony Pauline reported that while Pittsburgh is interested in trade target Courtland Sutton, there is a high asking price for the WR.

Another day, another Steelers WR trade rumor has broken the internet. However, something about this particular receiver trade feels different. Not only is the November 5 trade deadline less than a week away, but the trade target in question has history with Steelers QB Russell Wilson.

Broncos WR Courtland Sutton, Wilson’s former number one target in Denver, has been linked to Pittsburgh over the past few days. While Steelers fans would love for the team to add more offensive talent, others are growing frustrated with the persistent rumors and speculation that never materialize.

 

The San Francisco 49ers attempted to acquire Sutton during the Brandon Aiyuk trade drama, but Denver refused to deal the WR, resulting in Aiyuk staying in San Francisco.

Could the Broncos’ stubbornness, and high asking price, put a halt to Sutton and Wilson reuniting in Pittsburgh?  One concern remains certain, the Steelers need another dynamic WR in order to keep up with the rest of AFC.

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Steelers’ DT responds to trade rumors

It is safe to say that Steelers’ All-Pro DT Cameron Heyward isn’t a fan of the recent speculation and trade rumors surrounding Pittsburgh.

While fans around the NFL enjoy the rumors and speculation surrounding the approaching trade deadline, it’s safe to say one Steelers player isn’t a fan. Pittsburgh’s three-time First Team All-Pro DT, Cam Heyward, wants fans to focus on the players in the Steelers’ locker room rather than waste energy predicting who will go where. 

In last week’s episode of his podcast, Not Just Football with Cam Heyward, the defensive tackle shared his frustration with the ongoing trade speculations: “Every week, it’s ‘Who are we getting this week? Who are we getting this week?’” He added that the team “can’t keep worrying about shoulda, woulda, coulda.” Heyward’s powerful statements reflects his confidence in his teammates and what this roster is capable of achieving. 

He does make a valid point, as three major trade rumors involving the Steelers have come and gone without any new receivers to show for it. Should fans place more trust in the current Pittsburgh receiver room moving forward, instead of holding onto hope for another playmaker to be added by the trade deadline?

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Pittsburgh seemingly misses out on another All-Pro WR trade

Four potential WR trade targets have come and gone for the Pittsburgh Steelers, as the Rams’ HC seemingly ended the Cooper Kupp trade hype.

From excitment to disappointment, what a difference a day makes. Head Coach Sean McVay crushed the hearts of Pittsburgh Steelers fans in the post-game press conference following Thursday Night Football’s matchup between the Minnesota Vikings and Los Angeles Rams.

The most recent WR trade target on the Steelers’ radar was none other than 31-year-old All-Pro Cooper Kupp of the Rams. The superstar wideout had a solid outing on Thursday Night Football, and McVay took notice. While speaking to the media, the Rams head coach alluded to the trade rumors and practically dashed any hopes of the ‘Steel City’ acquiring the talented receiver.

 

Are fans placing too much pressure on the shoulders of General Manager Omar Khan and the Steelers’ front office?  Possibly, however, Khan should never have traded away the number one receiver in Pittsburgh, Diontae Johnson, without a proper backup plan in place.

Steelers’ RB Cordarrelle Patterson may end up being the last line of defense for recruiting a star player to Pittsburgh, and WR Mike Williams of the New York Jets could fit that bill.

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Could son of 49ers legend help team replace Brandon Aiyuk?

The San Francisco 49ers can’t close any doors when maneuvering their roster to make up for Brandon Aiyuk’s season-ending knee injury.

Replacing wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk quickly shot up the San Francisco 49ers’ list of priorities when the 2023 All-Pro went down with a season-ending knee injury in Week 7.

Aiyuk’s injury, which came just over two weeks before the NFL’s Nov. 5 trade deadline, may push San Francisco into action to acquire a WR on the trade market. There are a handful of options that make sense if that’s the route they want to take.

If they don’t take that route, there’s an intriguing name in the building who could make his way to the roster: undrafted rookie WR Terique Owens, who is the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer and 49ers legend Terrell Owens.

While the trade route seems to be the most logical one if the team is looking for a direct replacement for Aiyuk, head coach Kyle Shanahan on Monday in a conference call told reporters the team will explore the trade market without putting all their eggs in that basket.

“Well, it makes you look into everything,” Shanahan said of Aiyuk’s injury. “We try to look into everything regardless. Obviously with more issues that came up yesterday, you still want to look into everything, but it has to do with what options are out there with stuff that we can pull off that doesn’t totally hurt us, that helps us now and doesn’t hurt us for the future. There’s lots of decisions that go into it. So, we’ll look into everything, but a lot of times that’s just kind of living in hope.”

If a trade doesn’t materialize, the 49ers are likely to simply push Jauan Jennings into a more prominent role while backfilling the WR3 snaps with rookies Ricky Pearsall and Jacob Cowing, and veterans Chris Conley and Ronnie Bell.

They may want to keep another WR on the roster for depth purposes even if they don’t need to replace Aiyuk on a snap-to-snap basis. And that’s where Owens emerges as an internal option. Shanahan said without a trade, they’ll rely on who they have in the building.

“Those answers aren’t always out there,” Shanahan said. “You’ve got to be ready to get people better in your building and deal with what you’ve got in your building. And if you ever find something that makes sense, we will never hesitate on it but it’s not always available like you hope it is.”

Owens is one of two wide receivers on the practice squad, along with veteran and former 49ers fifth-round pick Trent Taylor. Taylor has primarily been a punt returner over the last few seasons, which may open the door for Owens to step in and contribute on more special teams units.

There’s no guarantee either Taylor or Owens are promoted from the practice squad. San Francisco, when healthy, is still working with six receivers who have roles in the offense and on special teams. The likelihood a practice squad receiver is anything more than a special teams contributor is something south of miniscule.

With injuries to Conley, Jennings and Samuel entering Week 8, however, there’s a chance we could see Owens elevated from the practice squad when the 49ers host the Cowboys on Sunday Night Football.

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49ers injury news underscores need for Christian McCaffrey return

The San Francisco 49ers have never needed Christian McCaffrey back more than they do now.

It isn’t news that running back and reigning Offensive Player of the Year Christian McCaffrey is a key cog in the 49ers’ offensive system.

It also isn’t news that his return should provide a substantial boost for a San Francisco offense that’s been struggling to find the end zone without him in 2024.

New developments coming out of the team’s Week 7 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs highlight just how important McCaffrey’s return will be for the 49ers.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan on Monday in a conference call with reporters confirmed that wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk tore his ACL and MCL in Sunday’s loss. He also said tight end George Kittle is day-to-day with a foot sprain, and WR Jauan Jennings is still dealing with a hip injury that held him out of Week 7. WR Deebo Samuel is also hospitalized with pneumonia and his timetable for a return is unknown.

Shanahan also mentioned in his conference call that the team hopes to get McCaffrey back right after their Week 9 Bye.

Even if Kittle, Jennings and Samuel are all back by that Bye week, McCaffrey’s presence will be a massive help for the offense without Aiyuk in the lineup. Aiyuk is the only receiver the 49ers have who consistently separates against man coverage, and he’s a threat in all three levels of the passing game.

Having McCaffrey back will help Shanahan better manipulate defenders and open space for some of the other playmakers who made need some scheme assistance to get open and operate in the spaces they’re used to operating in.

There was never a point in the year where the 49ers weren’t going to need McCaffrey back, but their dire injury situation makes his return even more vital if San Francisco wants to make the playoffs and make noise when they get there.

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