Is the wideout “back”?
Silver linings, perhaps. While the 49ers squandered a 13-point lead to the Arizona Cardinals due to offensive inefficiency in the second half and a consistently inconsistent defense all year, there is one silver lining. 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk.
The wide receiver made eight catches for 147 yards and was targeted 12 times. Before Sunday’s game, he had 25 targets in the season, with only 167 yards.
We all are familiar with the offseason drama to start the 2024 season. A big part of it was Aiyuk holding out of training camp. Catches that he’d make in his sleep suddenly became drops. In the Week 1 New York Jets game alone, Aiyuk had as many drops as his entire 2023 season.
Unfortunately, a 147-yard game doesn’t come with touchdowns, and that certainly would have helped in this game. The 49ers’ offense continued to shoot themselves in the foot with turnovers and offensive line play.
“Yeah, not good,” Aiyuk said from his locker following the loss. No matter what question was asked, the disappointment of Sunday was visible on his face. Every question asked had little detail or elaboration.
Regarding the hole the 49ers have dug themselves into, Aiyuk isn’t skeptical.
“I think we’ll be alright.”
Aiyuk himself is just one piece the 49ers are waiting on. They still need to see if they’ll even get Christian McCaffrey back this season while he rests with Achilles tendonitis. There’s also Dre Greenlaw and Ricky Pearsall.
Hopefully, these pieces can get to the 49ers before their backs are thrust harder against the wall.
It seems like AIyuk is a step in the right direction, especially given his previous games, but do you think the 49ers wide receiver is “back,” or do you need another game to decide if he’s shaken the rust off?