Given the apparent lack of progress in negotiations over his contract extension, it’s perhaps no surprise that Brandon Aiyuk is not expected to report for the start of OTAs for the San Francisco 49ers.

NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reported on Tuesday that Aiyuk is not anticipated at the voluntary workouts, and backed up a previous report from ESPN's Jeremy Fowler that the All-Pro wide receiver is not close to an agreement on a long-term deal with the Niners. 

Aiyuk, as it stands, is set to play the 2024 season on the fifth-year option. He will be an unrestricted free agent next offseason if the 49ers are unable to tie him to a new contract, though they still have the option of placing the franchise tag on the 2020 first-round pick in 2025.

He is evidently in no mood to jeopardize what leverage he does have by taking part in OTAs, which are voluntary, and potentially putting himself at risk of injury.

A more tangible indication of where the 49ers and Aiyuk are in their talks will come at San Francisco's mandatory minicamp, due to be held from June 4 to June 7.

If Aiyuk does not attend that, risking fines in the process, it will provide a clear sign that his impasse with the 49ers is a significant one.

Though Aiyuk took the usual step of unfollowing the 49ers on social media earlier in the offseason, there has been little suggestion of bad blood between him and San Francisco. Aiyuk even texted John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan to congratulate them on the selection of his former Arizona State teammate Ricky Pearsall in the first round of the draft. Per Garafolo, Aiyuk has not requested a trade from the 49ers.

As such, the 49ers might have hoped Aiyuk would at least show up for OTAs but elect not to take part in the on-field drills, protecting his body and leverage, in a decision that may have given them the chance to progress negotiations through his presence in the building.

Instead it appears the 49ers won’t get that opportunity, with Aiyuk’s absence illustrating just how much work they have to do to complete their most pressing offseason task.

San Francisco 49ers at risk of making a major mistake with pace of Brandon Aiyuk negotiations

They should speed things up.