Aiyuk determined to get more snaps
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. — Mildly embattled 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk said Friday that he has been off social media recently, but he has been made aware that he has been a topic of discussion this week.
“I had a couple people call me,” Aiyuk said, “and tell me I was trending on Twitter.”
He hopes to be trending for a different reason after Sunday’s visit to Philadelphia. Aiyuk, the 49ers’ 2020 first-round pick who had zero targets while playing 26 snaps last Sunday in a seasonopening win against the Lions, spoke with reporters for the first time since he had a more modest role than expected.
Was he surprised? “Definitely,” Aiyuk said.
Will it serve as motivation? “Of course,” he responded.
And Aiyuk suggested it could serve as a wake-up call as he readies for the final 16 regular-season games.
“That’s the way I look at it,” Aiyuk said. “I think I’ve already started to understand in this league that it’s never really just a steady path to the top. So you’re going to have really high moments (and) low moments. But I think it’s all about just how you refocus. How you rebalance and get back on track afterwards.
“I look at it as an opportunity. I look at it as a way to just have extra motivation to come out here, get back in line, get back to focus, and continue to move forward.”
Aiyuk, who was expected to serve as a co-No. 1 wideout with Deebo Samuel, instead played one less snap than receiver Trent Sherfield and just six more than receiver Mohamed Sanu.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan said Friday that Aiyuk had a “good” week of practice, but suggested a wide receiver rotation, of sorts, could continue.
“It’s not just about Aiyuk,” Shanahan said. “I know I keep saying this, but I feel bad for him that everyone is making it (just about) him. It also has to do with the other receivers in the room. We’ve got a pretty good group, and I think those guys had a pretty good week.”
Rookie progress: Running back Trey Sermon
evidently has some healthy motivation after he was a healthy scratch.
The rookie third-round pick has responded well in practice this week after he was inactive for the season opener, Shanahan and offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel said. Sermon, the No. 88 pick whom the 49ers traded up to select, did not play because he was the No. 4 back on the depth chart behind Raheem Mostert, Elijah Mitchell and JaMycal Hasty, Shanahan said after the game.
If the 49ers wanted to light a fire, it appears to have had the desired effect. McDaniel was asked how Sermon handled his spectator role.
“I didn’t talk to him about it, but I can tell you that the best way I know how he felt is by how he practiced this week,” McDaniel said Thursday. “There was a deliberate intent and an extra focus to him, an extra aggressiveness that I think his teammates felt. So what that told me is, ‘Hey I didn’t like not dressing. I want to play football. So how do I do that? I don’t go and talk to people. I show people.’ ”
It’s not a surprise Sermon will make his NFL debut Sunday against the Eagles, although Shanahan would only offer Wednesday that Sermon was “most likely” to be active with Mostert out for the season with a knee injury. On Friday, after the final practice of the week, Shanahan said Sermon took a step in the right direction.
“I thought he ran the ball better this week in practice,” Shanahan said. “Everyone, as the season starts to get going, you’re getting better or worse. And I thought he got better this week.”
Said Pro Bowl fullback
Kyle Juszczyk :“Isawa difference in how he practiced. The urgency he had out there and how hard he ran.”
Injury report: Defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw (knee) is questionable for Sunday’s game after he was limited in practice for the second straight day.
The 49ers’ practice Friday was mostly halfspeed, but Shanahan was encouraged with how Kinlaw’s knee responded after he went through individual drills Thursday for the first time since Sept. 6.
“He got a lot (of work) in yesterday and (his knee) was great today,” Shanahan said.
Cornerback Emmanuel Moseley (knee) returned to practice on a limited basis, but he is doubtful for Sunday. Defensive end Arik Armstead (adductor) and linebacker Marcell Harris (oblique) are questionable.