49ers HC: Brandon Aiyuk not in 'doghouse' after quiet Week 1

Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

49ers HC Kyle Shanahan: Brandon Aiyuk not in 'doghouse' after quiet Week 1

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 9/17/21

The San Francisco 49ers notched a 41-33 victory at the Detroit Lions to open their season last Sunday, but San Francisco wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk was largely a missing figure in that win. Per Nick Shook of the NFL's website, Aiyuk wasn't targeted once and was leapfrogged in snaps and overall offensive use by Trent Sherfield, who finished the afternoon with two catches for 23 yards and a touchdown.

While speaking with reporters Friday, head coach Kyle Shanahan declared there's nothing for fans or anybody else to worry about.

"No, it's not a doghouse," Shanahan said of Aiyuk. "He would've got his spot completely back; tweaked his hamstring before the third preseason game. Planned on rotating him; we did. And you get a big reaction to that. It's not personal ... Things are a bigger deal because of fantasy football."

Meanwhile, Aiyuk added.

Brandon Aiyuk: "I've already started to understand in this league it's never really just a steady path to the top. You're gonna have really high moments and really low moments, but I think it's all about how you refocus, how you rebalance and get back on track afterwards…"
— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) September 17, 2021

Shanahan may not care about fantasy football lineups, but his comments suggest Aiyuk could have at least somewhat of a larger role during this Sunday's game at the Philadelphia Eagles.

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