Peyton Manning on Brandon Aiyuk

The San Francisco 49ers opened the 2024 NFL season with a 32-19 victory over the New York Jets, but wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk faced criticism for dropping a potential touchdown pass. Aiyuk, who signed a four-year, $120 million contract extension just before the season, missed significant training camp time due to contract negotiations, which contributed to his struggles in the game. Former quarterback Peyton Manning, commenting on the 'ManningCast,' emphasized the importance of training camp for building chemistry with quarterback Brock Purdy and criticized Aiyuk's lack of preparation. Aiyuk recorded just two receptions for 28 yards and had two drops in the first half, which was a stark contrast to his previous season's performance where he had only two drops in total. Despite the rocky start, Aiyuk aims to regain his form moving forward as the 49ers seek to bounce back from their Super Bowl 58 defeat.