In an ideal world, the 49ers wouldn't be having to deal with these two critical issues at the very start of training camp.
Unbridled enthusiasm is a part of every single training camp for every single team, from Super Bowl contenders all the way toward teams likely to pick within the top five of next year's NFL Draft.
But it's also a time of concern, worry, injuries and distractions.
The San Francisco 49ers are not yet a week into training camp as they prepare to do one better than just appear in the Super Bowl this season, but there are already some notable storylines that have become more headline-worthy than what players and units are doing on the field.
One can only hope these storylines don't wind up being too problematic and are resolved in quick order, but they nevertheless command attention.
49ers camp problem No. 1: Brandon Aiyuk, Trent Williams contract disputes
In something of a good-faith measure, star wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk showed up to training camp despite the well-documented nature of his contract-extension dispute.
Instead of practicing, though, Aiyuk is engaging in a "hold in" where he's physically present but not participating in team drills, often seen alongside general manager John Lynch observing practice:
However, another star player, All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams, is executing a hold-out and hasn't shown up to camp, subsequently being placed on the reserve/did-not-report list amid his own contract concerns.
"It was something I knew could be a possibility," head coach Kyle Shanahan said of Williams' holdout and contract issue. "I was hoping that he would be here but I knew it could be a possibility. I feel pretty confident it’ll all work out in the long run."
While Williams missing a handful of practices isn't a big deal, the longer the standoff continues, the potential for more problems will only grow.
Meanwhile, despite Aiyuk's trade request and the Niners' repeated emphasis on wanting to keep him, one can only hope the hold-in doesn't diminish the established rapport the team's leading receiver from the last two years has with quarterback Brock Purdy.
49ers camp problem No. 2: Injuries to key 49ers rookies
Aiyuk's absence during OTAs and minicamp opened up the door for rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall to take a more active role on offense, seeing many of the first-team reps that'd otherwise go to Aiyuk.
But Pearsall suffered a hamstring injury right at the start of camp before practices began, subsequently landing on the active/non-football injury list.
Shanahan and Lynch both reiterated they don't think the injury is serious, and the team is taking a precautionary measure with its top pick from last April's draft.
But, still, having Pearsall miss valuable practice time isn't a good thing.
And it's also not good news for rookie running back Isaac Guerendo, who suffered a pulled hamstring on the opening day of practices and had to be relegated to the training staff.
Guerendo, a fourth-round pick, has a history of injuries from his collegiate tenure and faces a still competition for a spot on the depth chart behind All-Pro Christian McCaffrey and alongside fellow backup rushers like Elijah Mitchell, Patrick Taylor Jr., Jordan Mason and the undrafted rookie Cody Schrader.
Missing a full week of practice could be detrimental to Guerendo's development, and any longer stints could seriously jeopardize the kind of impact he'd otherwise have in 2024 if available.
At least it's just the first week.
