The San Francisco 49ers have informed wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk that he must return to practice soon or risk missing the entire 2024 season.
"Did you know he got the five-day letter in the middle of August that he had to practice or he wouldn't be able to play this year?"
ESPN's Adam Schefter said of Aiyuk during a Monday appearance on The Pat McAfee Show. "Yeah, he did. You get a five-day letter. It means you better get back to practice or the team has the right to place you on the list and you lose the year. That happened too."
This ultimatum was communicated to Aiyuk during his contract negotiations in August, while he was holding out for an extension.
The team issued a five-day notice, emphasizing the importance of his participation in practice.
If Aiyuk failed to comply, the 49ers would have the right to place him on a list that would render him ineligible for the upcoming season.
Aiyuk had been able to avoid the $40,000 fines he would have otherwise faced for not practicing throughout training camp because he was dealing with back and neck soreness.
But once the Niners made their final roster cuts down to 53 players and Aiyuk was medically cleared, the team had the right to impose fines or suspensions for missed time.
ESPN's Nick Wagoner broke that down in further detail and wrote, "Under the terms of the collective bargaining agreement, once the league switches out of training camp and into regular-season mode, teams can begin fining players for 'unexcused missed activities,' which would include walk-throughs, curfews, practices and meetings.
"Those fines can reach up to $16,009 for each activity missed, with a maximum total fine for a single day of $45,769 if a player misses multiple events on the schedule. From there, teams also have the ability to suspend players for conduct detrimental to the team."
The CBA allows teams to suspend players for conduct detrimental to the team for up to four weeks, alongside fining such a player up to a week's salary.
The CBA additionally notes that a club cannot impose either fines or suspensions for conduct detrimental to the team until a player reaches a fourth violation in a given category.
Aiyuk has since returned to practice, showing promise as he prepares for the season ahead. The situation highlights the pressures players face during contract negotiations and the importance of staying engaged with team activities.