49ers mailbag: Will Brandon Aiyuk step up and make plays?

SANTA CLARA – Week 3 has arrived for the 49ers, whose fans filled our mailbag with justifiable concerns after the Week 2 mumbles in Minnesota. Just keep in mind a loss last year in Minnesota was part of the 49ers’ path to the Super Bowl:

Will B.A. step up and make plays? (@mtorres__13)

Without Deebo Samuel and Christian McCaffrey in uniform, the 49ers indeed need Brandon Aiyuk to produce like a $30-million-a-year receiver, if Brock Purdy throws to him like a future $60-million-a-year quarterback, if the offensive line provides protection while anchored by $28-million-a-year left tackle Trent Williams. The payroll department is rooting for those investments to pay dividends in Sunday’s market against a generous Rams defense. If Aiyuk again has only two catches, both better be in the end zone, or off deflections from a cornerback’s facemask on Purdy bombs.

How long is Deebo out? (@ben.dobris)

Samuel will rehabilitate his calf strain the next two weeks, from what he said Tuesday on his new podcast, “Cleats and Convos” via Bleacher Report’s broadcast network. He also said of the 49ers’ Super Bowl bid: “It’s now or never. With the guys we have, I’ve been a part of the best team in the NFL going on six years. So we’re always there. We’ve got to get it done.”

Is Bosa OK? (@coreys.reed)

Late in the third quarter, Nick Bosa and Vikings’ star receiver Justin Jefferson both got dinged in separate incidents. Bosa eventually hopped up OK on his leg, explaining afterward: “I got rolled up really bad. Thankfully I’m good. Yeah, I was scared.” Jefferson had to leave because his right thigh collided with Fred Warner’s.

This is an overreaction but … the 49ers will trade for (fill in the position) before the trade deadline. (@SFG_soccer)

They’re currently running low on all-purpose offensive stars (see: McCaffrey, Samuel). But they did not draft a defensive end, and they could repeat last October’s shopping spree (see: Chase Young, Randy Gregory) if they don’t coax more out of Leonard Floyd, Yetur Gross-Matos and Robert Beal.

Any recent news about CMC’s Injured Reserve stay? (@28__ren)

A pregame report on NFL Network suggested Christian McCaffrey could be out six weeks rather than the IR minimum of four (not counting his Week 1 game-day scratch). However, Shanahan left the window open for divine interpretation: “Nobody knows. We’re dealing with (Achilles) tendinitis, so not one person knows. He doesn’t know. We don’t know. Take it day by day. … It’ll give him time to rest, to protect him from himself.” Shanahan added that he has not been told of any potential surgery fix.

Does Green get more playing time going forward? (@DromedariusGB)

Cornerback Renardo Green got his first four defensive snaps last game, so perhaps the 49ers are hoping to work him into a rotation or prepping him for a dime package. Right now, the top three cornerbacks are Charvarius Ward, Deommodore Lenoir and Isaac Yiadom – as far as we know. The 49ers reportedly worked out three cornerbacks Tuesday, which could signal the need for an injury replacement; no cornerbacks have been listed as hurt.

My best question is: What the heck was that? (@controversycow)

We’ll call that The Minneapolis Mirage. Niners go unbeaten the rest of the way.

I was worried about the late November and early December games in Green Bay and Buffalo before this weekend. I am not trying to overlook what stands in front, but if an indoor Minneapolis stadium in September was problematic, how will we fair back-to-back battles in the Arctic? (@theBQ11)

Hey, maybe cold, dry air will help Purdy hold onto the ball. It got humid with the U.S. Bank Stadium’s glass doors ajar toward downtown, and perhaps that contributed to the ball slipping for Purdy’s hand for his second turnover. Green Bay and Buffalo trips are bookending the 49ers’ Thanksgiving week. For inspiration, sit by a fire and read my story from the 49ers’ last Lambeau leap in the January 2022 playoffs.

What needs to fix the red zone offense? (@ryanfrick20)

Get McCaffrey The TD Maker back on the field. The 49ers converted 2-of-4 red zone drives into touchdowns Sunday, and their first drive was most disturbing. It started with Aiyuk running his route out of bounds for a first-down incompletion, followed by Jordan Mason’s 1-yard loss, then a 3-yard shot to George Kittle before a fateful fourth-down throw that got tipped at the line, rather than accept a game-tying field goal. After touchdowns by Kittle and Mason, the 49ers’ last red-zone shot backfired, thanks to a Colton McKivitz false-start penalty and a third-down backward pass that Samuel ate for a 9-yard loss.

Correct score this past week, but wrong way. Are you going to fine tune your predictions? (@robertbalst)

If I could better predict my predictions’ outcome, I wouldn’t reverse the result like last week’s call: 49ers 23, Vikings 17.

This week’s take-it-or-flip-it score: 49ers 27, Rams 20

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This is when the mailbag morphed into a “concerns” confessional, so without rephrasing, here are some of those submissions:

“Inability of offense to score TDs” (@renragd)

Not everyone can be like the New Orleans Saints (11 touchdowns). The 49ers have scored two per game. Clearly they should invest more money in offensive players. Or just play out the next 15 games with a still-potent attack.

“RT is an issue, and overusing Deebo, and not generating pressure.” (@russell_t_0108)

Right tackle and every offensive line spot is a weekly issue. Offensive linemen purely exist to take the blame off everyone else. Well, all except Trent Williams, who wasn’t perfect last game, by the way.

“The defense is not scaring nobody!” (@chancebordeaux91)

Running backs would disagree if Fred Warner’s right fist is coming their way.

“Rams will beat them” (@alexiapaterakis)

The Jimmy Garoppolo Revenge Game!