San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk is likely itching to get back on the field after suffering a season-ending injury in Week 7 last season, but he and the team may have broken an NFL rule as he works his way back from a torn ACL and MCL.
Prior to San Francisco’s 22-19 preseason win over the Las Vegas Raiders on Saturday, Aiyuk was seen catching passes from quarterback Brock Purdy.
“Obviously he looks great physically, progressing in the right way with his knee,” Purdy said, via the San Francisco Chronicle. “But more than anything, man, you can tell he wants to get back out there and compete, which I love.”
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And while that might not seem like anything egregious on the surface, it’s a decision that could come back to bite the 49ers, according to NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco on the latest episode of “49ers Talk.”
“If you were there early, you got to see Brandon Aiyuk running some routes,” co-host Jennifer Lee Chan said. “Brock Purdy gave him a lot of compliments, he’s saying he has a great mindset, and I think he’s on his way for sure.”
“I don’t know that that’s allowed, to have a PUP player running routes and catching passes from the quarterback, whether it’s at practice or in the game,” Maiocco added. “So, maybe the 49ers will be hearing from the NFL on that one.”
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Per NFL rules, any player on the PUP list, regardless of whether they are on the active or reserve PUP list, are not allowed to practice with the team in any capacity.
Violations of this rule could result in “a fine on the involved club, fines or suspensions of involved individuals, as well as the possible forfeiture of draft choices by the involved club.”
Aiyuk could face a personal fine of $25,000 and the 49ers a fine of $75,000, according to the Sporting News.
The 49ers are expected to be without Aiyuk for the first third of the season—head coach Kyle Shanahan recently told reporters the $120 million wide receiver likely won’t return until Week 6 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers—leaving the team to rely on Jauan Jennings, Ricky Pearsall, and Jacob Cowing plus journeymen Russell Gage, Demarcus Robinson, and Robbie Chosen.
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