Aiyuk has made mark as rookie
Brandon Aiyuk did more than just mimic Terrell Owens on Sunday in Dallas.
With nine catches for 73 yards and a touchdown, the 49ers’ rookie receiver continued his ascent in the team record book.
His 59 receptions already are the most by a 49ers rookie wide receiver — Earl Cooper had 83 as a running back in 1980 — and he has two games left to surpass some mighty big names.
For instance, with 104 yards, Aiyuk will eclipse Jerry Rice’s rookie record of 927. Sunday, the firstround draft pick (25th overall) moved past Gene Washington and Dave Park ls. With 733 yards, he is behind only Rice and Deebo Samuel, who had 802 receiving yards last season.
Aiyuk has scored seven touchdowns in his 11 games. The only 49ers rookies with more are Roger Craig (12, 1983) and Cooper (nine, 1980).
His touchdown catch Sunday was on a jet toss from Nick Mullens on
fourth-and-goal from the 2 late in the first half. After that score, Aiyuk celebrated by stretching his arms and gazing skyward. Except for the fact that he did it in the endzone, rather than sprinting to the Dallas star at midfield, it was reminiscent of Owens’ controversial celebration during a game in Dallas in 2000.
Also, T.O. did it twice. Aiyuk hasn’t had a multitouchdown game. All five of
his receiving touchdowns have come in the past seven games, with his two rushing touchdowns coming in Weeks 3 and 4.
(Incidentally, Owens had 35 catches for 520 yards and four touchdowns in his rookie season.)
Aiyuk drew 13 targets on Sunday, including a fourthquarter throw that resulted in one of Mullens’ two interceptions that fateful quarter.
Asked how the offense
tried to uplift Mullens, Aiyuk said: “All 11 guys on offense are worried about their own job. He’s a professional and knows what he has to do. If he misses a throw, he’ll be the first one to note he missed the throw.”
The 49ers deployed Aiyuk as their third punt returner Sunday, and he made a fair catch in the fourth quarter when they trailed just 27-24. It was the third straight game he’s made a cameo in that role, this time following Richie James (first- quarter fumble) and Trent Taylor.
Said Aiyuk: “They ask me if I want to go in at certain times, and today they asked so I went back there. I go back when they need me to.”
The 49ers (5-9) close out their season against the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday and Seattle Seahawks on Jan. 3, with both games at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.