49ers cornerstone holds out from training camp (but not the name you expected)
And you would have been wrong.
By Peter Panacy
![San Francisco 49ers left tackle Trent Williams (71) San Francisco 49ers left tackle Trent Williams (71)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_5396,h_3035,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/GettyImages/mmsport/42/01j3k3c7gjj99a8mw5vb.jpg)
Trent Williams, not Brandon Aiyuk, ended up being the 49ers' highest-profile player not to show up to the beginning of training camp.
For months, all kinds of speculation built around whether or not star wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk would show up for training camp, provided he and the San Francisco 49ers couldn't reach some sort of resultion surrounding his ongoing contract-extension dispute.
Aiyuk showed up when veterans were to report on Monday, though.
Another star Niners player did not.
At the start of Tuesday's practices, reporters observed perennial All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams wasn't on the field, leading to backup tackle Jaylon Moore getting first-team reps. While the aging Williams is known for being granted plenty of field days off, it was a bit odd not seeing him on the field at any point whatsoever.
After practice, head coach Kyle Shanahan clarified what's going on.
Kyle Shanahan: Trent Williams' lack of camp attendance is contract-related
Speaking to reporters, Shanahan revealed there's a holdout going on with Williams:
Kyle Shanahan on Trent Williams contract hold out:
— KNBR (@KNBR) July 24, 2024
“I knew it could be a possibility. I feel pretty confident it will all work out in the long run and he’ll be here & we’ll get on the same page with everything.” pic.twitter.com/nJ5j3mS9Mi
"I knew it could be a possibility," Shanahan said. "I feel pretty confident it will all work out in the long run and he’ll be here, and we’ll get on the same page with everything."
Williams signed a six-year, $138 million deal with San Francisco back in 2021, making him the highest-paid offensive lineman in NFL history at the time.
However, Minnesota Vikings left tackle Christian Darrisaw recently signed a new extension for four years, worth up to $113 million, $77 million of which is guaranteed.
It's likely the nature of that contract convinced Williams his value is much more than what he's earning, potentially prompting the hold-out.
While Shanahan has a history of staying out of such negotiations, one can only hope Williams and the 49ers are able to resolve this relatively quickly, even though the future Hall of Famer probably doesn't need a lot of training camp practices to get ready for the upcoming season.
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