Ward: 49ers ‘know what they’re doing’ to settle Aiyuk, Williams disputes soon
SANTA CLARA — Red and white 49ers T-shirts hung like normal inside Brandon Aiyuk’s locker. Three colorful ballcaps rested above on shelves, none of which represented the Pittsburgh Pirates or any other city he’s been linked to as a potential trade destination.
Aiyuk, however, was nowhere to be seen Thursday when the media was allowed entry, the first post-practice access since he and his teammates reported a month ago for training camp. He has remained out of sight and out of practice, even though the 49ers’ brass revealed Wednesday he is physically cleared — and essentially ordered — to get back on the field.
(UPDATE: Aiyuk agreed to a four-year, $120 million deal later Thursday afternoon, a source confirmed)
Left tackle Trent Williams also remains absent, and while teammates still express sympathy over those contract disputes, it’s hard to ignore the emotional and on-field toll being taken ahead of the Sept. 9 regular-season opener.
“They bring a lot of energy, a lot of juice, a lot of talent,” cornerback Charvarius Ward said. “Everybody knows Trent was a captain, a Hall of Famer, a big dog of the team, and damn near everybody is scared of him.”
Defensive end Leonard Floyd acknowledged as much, reminding reporters he faced Williams multiple times with the 2020-22 Rams. Floyd is looking forward to their future practice-field battles, but he’s not one to speak on other teammates’ business.
“My vibe is I live in my world, so I just focus on me, and my job, and making sure I please my position coach,” Floyd said. “I’ve got enough stress with that. I can’t really think about other stuff.”
Ward views the 49ers’ contract battles with Aiyuk and Williams as simply next in a procession after Deebo Samuel’s in 2022 and Nick Bosa’s last year. “We definitely want to have those guys here, and I know they feel like they’re deserving of something more,” Ward said. “John and Kyle and the owners know what they’re doing, so hopefully they get it resolved soon and we can get this season pushing to have a great year.”
Wide receiver Deebo Samuel sat at his locker and declined to comment until next week, but another offensive starter spoke up with a calming tone. Center Jake Brendel vouched wanting Aiyuk and Williams back, “but it’s got to make sense for both of them,” Brendel said.
“Within the building, everyone is still on the same page as we were for however many years we’ve been here,” Brendel added. “We just want exactly what we did last season but with just one more win.”
In the opposite corner of the locker room was Jaylon Moore, a fourth-year veteran who’s filled Williams’ spot at left tackle throughout camp and the offseason, just as he’s routinely done on Wednesdays during the season as Williams rests. “Of course, being behind the best left tackle of all time and just learning from him every day has been my calling card,” Moore said.
Moore, a potential 2025 free agent, has given Williams space to deal with his own business while working hard and envisioning a Week 1 start against the Jets. If Moore reverts before then to a backup role, “I wouldn’t consider it a weird situation. I’m just keeping my head down, taking it day by day, trying to be the best I can be.”
HUFANGA’S RETURN
Nine months after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament, Talanoa Hufanga went through his second straight practice. He warmed up with fellow safety Ji’Ayir Brown and starting cornerbacks Ward and Deommodore Lenoir — the 49ers’ projected starting secondary, if not in Week 1 then shortly thereafter.
“Just talking together, it’s, ‘Damn, we finally got the guys back,’ ” Brown said of that foursome scene. “He knew his time was going to come where he was going to back on the field There’s no need to have a negative approach or a negative mindset. It’s going to happen eventually.”
Added defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen: “He’s always positive. He’s a good dude. He’s also very smart, cerebral, always wanting to talk ball. The way he plays, he’s a violent player, too and he cuts it loose.” If Hufanga isn’t yet ready for Week 1, George Odum figures to get the start, and Sorensen praised Odum’s growth in coverage and communication.
PRACTICE NOTES
The 49ers will resume practicing Tuesday, then after a day off, they’ll practice three consecutive days and officially post injury reports for the first time. Floyd (knee), Hufanga (knee) and cornerback Isaac Yiadom (ankle) practiced Thursday. Those who did not: Aiyuk (holdout), running backs Christian McCaffrey (calf) and Isaac Guerendo (groin), guard Aaron Banks (hand), linebacker Dee Winters (ankle) and wide receiver Jauan Jennings (oblique).