Brandon Aiyuk holds, Trent Williams holds, and the 49ers hold on.
John Lynch continued to set the tone for the company during his regular appearance on KNBR, saying there was no update on Aiyuk or Williams’ contract status while maintaining that San Francisco values each star player and wants them back.
“We’re going to continue to work on that,” Lynch said of Aiyuk on the Murph & Markus Show. “Same thing with Trent Williams: No updates on that. Good communication with the players and their representatives, but no breakthroughs. We’re going to leave it at that and focus on the other 90 guys that are here and doing great things on the field.”
Aiyuk and Williams’ situations are very different. Aiyuk reportedly requested a trade and the 49ers have been negotiating with interested teams about structures as a result. The receiver has attended 49ers practices but only in street clothes.
Williams, meanwhile, has stayed home during training camp and the preseason — racking up fines — because he no longer has guaranteed money in his contract. But the left tackle has been in contact with his head coach, Kyle Shanahan.
A multitude of factors complicate both situations. But at this point, the most important factor is time. When asked if there was a deadline for closing the deals, Lynch replied: “last month.”
“Everybody knows when the kickoff is,” Lynch said. “We’re happy with our team. We’ve said it many times: We’d like to have those two on the team, but we like our group. I’ll leave it at that.”
San Francisco’s final preseason game is Friday night in Las Vegas, the site of the Super Bowl the 49ers lost to Kansas City in February. The first week is Sept. 9 at home against Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets.
It’s questionable whether Williams or Aiyuk, even if they resolve their contract differences, would be physically ready to put on their uniforms for the start of the season.
“We’re not there yet, but we’re getting there,” Lynch said when asked if their Week 1 availability was in question. “It’s right around the corner. So we’re going to continue to try to figure things out and see where things take us.”
Aiyuk emerged as Brock Purdy’s favorite target last season, leading San Francisco in receptions (75) and receiving yards (1,342). As a route runner and deep threat, he’s a perfect complement to Deebo Samuel, the versatile, hard-hitting playmaker. And Williams, a three-time All-Pro, may be the 49ers’ most important player, whether on the field or the wing.
Lynch knows that at this point in the negotiations, anything said publicly could tip the scales one way or the other. It’s his job to keep any real developments under wraps. But with just a few weeks left until the regular season begins, the outstanding issues will be scrutinized even more closely by then.
The 49ers are Super Bowl contenders with Aiyuk and Williams. Without them, they love their team. That’s a huge difference.
“I know the fans are looking forward to it and the season is right around the corner,” Lynch said. “I can tell everyone this: We feel an urgency to get all of our players back. We’re very excited about our team, and these are two players that have played a huge role in our success. So we’d love to have them both back on the team.”
