Brock Purdy sends clear message to Brandon Aiyuk amid contract talks with 49ers

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy will be present today as the team reports for the start of its offseason program. Purdy was a little early, as he hosted a youth football camp over the weekend.

Cam Inman of Bay Area News Group spoke to the 49ers quarterback during the event and asked him about one of his teammates, Brandon Aiyuk. The star wide receiver is currently in contract extension negotiations with the 49ers, and the team has emphasized keeping him around for the foreseeable future as an offseason priority.

Purdy has talked with Aiyuk and wants to ensure that the receiver knows his quarterback supports him throughout this process.

"We've talked," Purdy told Inman. "I just told him I'll always have his back and support him in whatever he does. I want the best for him. It's a business thing, so for me to say anything about that, that's out of my pay grade. He and I talk through things and I hear him out. At the end of the day, what he's done for me, giving me an opportunity to come in and throw him the ball, I'll always be thankful for that."

Aiyuk is coming off a career season, surpassing 1,000 receiving yards for the second consecutive year. He concluded his 2023 campaign with a career-high 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns, solidifying his position as an emerging star in the NFL.

Purdy has had a busy offseason so far. He recently got married and took some time off to enjoy his honeymoon, which has left little time to bond with his teammates. That's why returning to work this week is crucial.

"Guys need time away from each other, just to go breathe and train and do their own thing," Purdy said. "We spend so much time together anyways. But a text here and there, we've done that, but it's not like, 'Hey, let's get together and party.'"

This offseason is significant for Purdy, who hasn't had the luxury of significant practice reps during the last two offseason programs. His head coach is excited to have the quarterback back and start working to improve upon last season's Pro Bowl campaign, during which Purdy set a single-season franchise record with 4,280 passing yards.

"I'm just pumped that Brock gets an offseason," Kyle Shanahan said last month. "I mean, his first year he didn't get much of one just because he was the third quarterback. Last year was all about he couldn't really throw with us until training camp. And this year, he just got married, he's fully healthy.

"He's going to come back here in a couple of weeks, and we'll get going. And I'm just pumped to be able to go through the film with him and to be on the field with him, which he hasn't had a chance to do yet in his career."