The Niners trading Brandon Aiyuk felt like a real possibility a month ago. However, no team would take on his contract after the $120 million contract extension San Francisco handed him last year. Add in the injuries the WR is dealing with, and the market just was not there. So the Niners had no other option than to keep him on the squad and act like they never wanted to trade him in the first place. Since Aiyuk is still on the team, attention has shifted to his rehabilitation. On the other hand, team owner Jed York had some thoughts on the sacrifices the franchise made to keep things running smoothly, especially with Brock Purdy. But we’ll get to that later.

So, the Niners’ GM John Lynch and HC Kyle Shanahan finally broke their silence on Brandon Aiyuk’s injury status. The WR tore his ACL and MCL in Week 7’s game against Kansas City. The injury was so bad that it ruled Aiyuk out for the rest of the season. After that, the only talk around his return became vague until Monday, when Shanahan gave a somewhat more hopeful update. The Niners HC shared, “We’re told by his doctor there’s a chance for Aiyuk to be available in Week 1.“

While this sounds positive, Shanahan also made it clear that it’s still too soon to say anything for sure. Recovery from torn ACL and MCL injuries is tricky. The early signs might be promising. Yet, San Francisco will have to wait and see how Aiyuk progresses in rehab.

“He went down there to Dr. Neal ElAttrache last week. I’m not going to get into timelines and all that, but he did very well. We’re pleased with Brandon’s progress. He has been working hard and has gotten good reviews from Dr. ElAttrache,” shared GM John Lynch.

Brandon’s injury concerns aren’t the only thing troubling the Niners this offseason. There’s more on their plate, especially regarding Brock Purdy’s contract situation.

49ers’ roster moves: The cost of keeping Brock Purdy

In mid-March, the Niners traded, released, and cut several veterans from their roster. Starting with Deebo Samuel, the team parted ways with several key players, including Dre Greenlaw, Javon Hargrave, Patrick Taylor Jr., and many others. Initially, the team released fullback Kyle Juszczyk but re-signed him after a few days. This move left the team facing backlash from many fans, who questioned the front office’s decision to drop veteran players from the squad.

And now, for the first time, owner Jed York has finally broken his silence. In an interview with Mike Garafolo, York said, “We knew that we had to make sacrifices around the roster to make sure that you can pay a quarterback. It’s just math.”

Purdy is in the final year of his $3.73 million contract. San Francisco looks to lock him into an extension before he hits free agency next year. 

But the question is, why hasn’t San Francisco locked in Purdy’s deal yet, even after all the roster ‘sacrifices’ they made? When asked about it, Jed York explained, “I think (contract talks have) been good. It’s not conversations that I’m having. He’s got to make a decision with what he wants to do. I don’t think we’re that far apart. I think we can sit down and get something done. Whenever he’s ready, we’re ready.”

From York’s statements, it sounds like the ball is in Brock’s court. The Niners have the option to offer an extension next year as well, but the team is eager to work out a deal sooner rather than later. “We want to make sure that Brock is a long-term partner. We want to make sure that he’s a part of our team for a long time,” said the Niners’ owner.

So, what happens next? How the team handles Brock Purdy’s contract situation is still in the air. With both sides seemingly open to a deal, it’s just a matter of when, not if, it gets done. Now, everyone is just waiting to see how it all unfolds.