The 49ers won't open the practice windows for either Brandon Aiyuk (knee) or Jacob Cowing (hamstring) this week, Shanahan said.

Cowing's won't be opened until after the Week 14 bye. Aiyuk remains week to week, Shanahan said, according to the post. The team is planning to have Aiyuk back, but continue with the slow process in making that happen.

49ers placed WR Brandon Aiyuk and S​ Malik Mustapha on the Physically Unable to Perform List.

Related players: Jauan Jennings, Ricky Pearsall, Demarcus Robinson, Jacob Cowing, Skyy Moore, George Kittle, Christian McCaffrey

This news comes as no surprise. Aiyuk's timeline to return is around Week 6 as we previously reported. Jennings is dealing with a calf injury/contract issue, which means the Niners are without their top-two WRs, at the moment. Pearsall, Kittle and McCaffrey should carry the load in the passing game at least to start the season.

49ers WR Demarcus Robinson has been suspended three games for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy, HC Kyle Shanahan told @KNBR.

Related Players: Jauan Jennings, Ricky Pearsall, Jacob Cowing, George Kittle

This is almost assuredly going to be the Jennings-Pearsall-Kittle show, with ample Christian McCaffrey sprinkled in, at least until Brandon Aiyuk comes back into the picture. They are all easy targets at their current ADPs, and Pearsall might get a little bit extra while Robinson is sidelined.

This could change at any moment but the answer, for now, is second-year wideout Ricky Pearsall. Pearsall has moved past the hamstring injury that kept him out in the spring and has begun stringing good practices together. Offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak said by the end of last season Pearsall was the team's best receiver when it came to beating man coverage. He's continued to sharpen his route running and with many of the other wideouts dealing with injuries, including Jauan Jennings (who would be the answer here if healthy), there are plenty of opportunities for Pearsall to build on his strong finish to last season early in 2025.

Related Players: Brandon Aiyuk, Jacob Cowing, Demarcus Robinson

Things seemed to be heading in this direction, which is probably why the ADPs of Pearsall and Jennings have shifted much closer together over the summer months. Jennings had a massive 175-yard performance in the first month of last season, but Pearsall also closed the year out well and has his first full offseason under his belt after being shot (with a gun) last August. Both options look like they should be in the fantasy WR3 range for now.

Jauan Jennings, 28, is entering the final year of a two-year, $15.4 million extension that he signed with the franchise in May 2024. Despite Jennings wanting a new contract, it doesn't appear that an extension is imminent. Tim Kawakami of The San Francisco Standard reported Tuesday that the "two sides are not close on a new agreement," citing the timing of the contract request.

Related players: Ricky Pearsall, Demarcus Robinson, Jacob Cowing, Jordan Watkins

Jennings hasn't practiced since July 27 due to a calf injury which came less than two weeks after a report surfaced that Jennings wants a new contract and is open to a trade if he isn't compensated adequately, the story said. Some are questioning the calf injury, according to the story. Watkins is going to miss a month and Aiyuk should start the season on the PUP list, so the Niners are looking thin at the WR position as we get closer to the season.

49ers GM John Lynch “doesn’t think” WR Brandon Aiyuk will be cleared for Week 1, but no official timetable set for ACL/MCL comeback.

Related players: Jauan Jennings, Ricky Pearsall, Demarcus Robinson, Jacob Cowing, Brock Purdy, George Kittle

This comes as no surprise, as we hadn't expected him to return until sometime in mid-season. Aiyuk should be passed over until late in drafts until we get some sort of concrete timetable, which may hint that he doesn't become fantasy-viable until at least the second half of the season. Jennings and Pearsall remain great mid-round picks.

49ers OC Klay Kubiak on Jauan Jennings:

“His calf is bothering him. We're going to take it day-by-day and see where he's at."

Via: @957thegame

Related Players: Ricky Pearsall, George Kittle, Jordan Watkins, Jacob Cowing, Demarcus Robinson

This appears to be the second time Jennings has dealt with a calf injury, including one back in OTAs. This doesn't bode well for his bid for a restructured contract (or trade) that he's been waiting on this summer, and could open the door for more Pearsall usage ahead of a season they will be missing Brandon Aiyuk for at least a portion of.

A report last week that Jauan Jennings wants to be traded if he does not receiver a contract extension from the 49ers was followed by one that said he planned to report to training camp on time despite those feelings. GM John Lynch confirmed that Jennings was at camp during the press conference and that the team expects he will be practicing while declining to say whether there were any contract talks going on.

Related players: Brandon Aiyuk, Ricky Pearsall, Demarcus Robinson, Jacob Cowing, Brock Purdy

The story later said that Lynch wouldn't comment on any kind of contract talks, but Jennings didn't ask to be traded. With Aiyuk expected to be out until October, or even November, there's a good chance Jennings at least starts the season as the team's WR1.

San Francisco GM John Lynch told reporters today that 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk currently is “not anywhere close to having a concrete timeline” to return from the knee injury suffered last season.

Related players: Jauan Jennings, Ricky Pearsall, Demarcus Robinson, Jacob Cowing, George Kittle, Christian McCaffrey, Brock Purdy

The talk around Aiyuk is more of a return in October, or even November, according to those who follow the team. That means guys like Jennings, Pearsall, Robinson and Cowing could have a chance to be big factors in the 49ers passing game to start the season. As long CMC is healthy, it's possible he and Kittle will soak up a lot of Purdy's targets as well, but there could be some WR sleepers on the Niners available later in drafts.

49ers placed WRs Brandon Aiyuk and Ricky Pearsall on the Active/Physically Unable to Perform list.

Related Players: Jauan Jennings, Demarcus Robinson, Jordan Watkins, Jacob Cowing

Aiyuk was expected, but Pearsall seems to be dealing with an undisclosed injury. We'll keep an eye on things, but we still expect the latter to be ready for Week 1. Regardless, Jennings continues to creep up rankings dispite his current contract dispute and finds himself as a borderline WR2/3 in our rankings, while Pearsall hovers in the WR4 range.