SANTA CLARA, Calif.—Star San Francisco 49ers receiver Brandon Aiyuk was not at the start of practice on Wednesday despite the team saying he was cleared by doctors to participate, raising the temperature of a contract “hold in” that has been a cloud over the franchise since the offseason.
Aiyuk had refused to practice all training camp as he seeks a long-term extension or a possible trade, with Coach Kyle Shanahan citing a back injury as the official reason for what is essentially a contract dispute.
