The 49ers don’t yet know if wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk and left tackle Trent Williams will play in Week 1 against the Jets, but head coach Kyle Shanahan says he has to prepare the team to play without them.
Williams continues to stay away from the team, and Shanahan said today he hasn’t spoken to Williams recently. Aiyuk has been with the team but declined to practice, and today reporters who attended the public portion of the 49ers’ practice said there was no sign of Aiyuk, even though Shanahan said before practice that Aiyuk had been declared fit to play by team doctors.
Shanahan himself said he remains optimistic, but at the same time is aware of the fact that two players who have not trained all summer may not be able to play when the season starts on Monday, September 9.
“I’m optimistic that Trent will work out,” Shanahan said. “I’m sitting here not knowing what day it’s going to be. I mean, we’re about to play a game. So I’m totally focused on preparing for a game without those guys. But I think when two sides want to make a deal, that’s usually what happens.”
It’s not too late for the 49ers to get Aiyuk and Williams on the practice field in time for both to be active on the first Monday night of the season, but it’s going to be tight.
