49ers Week 1 opponent dealing with contract drama of their own

The San Francisco 49ers aren’t the only team dealing with contract drama entering the second week of the preseason.

While the 49ers deal with a holdout from left tackle Trent Williams, and the mess that has become wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk’s hold-in, their Week 1 opponent is dealing with a contract issue of their own.

The New York Jets acquired defensive end Haason Reddick from the Philadelphia Eagles on March 29 for a conditional 2026 draft pick. They’ve yet to come to an agreement on a long-term contract extension, leading to a holdout from the two-time Pro Bowler. He has now officially requested a trade according to CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones. The Jets swiftly responded with a statement from general manager Joe Douglas, indicating they won’t trade him, and they expect him to be in training camp.

Reddick is entering the final year of a three-year contract he originally signed with the Eagles before the 2022 campaign.

This is part of the reason why Aiyuk wasn’t more quickly dealt by the 49ers. They couldn’t just send him to whichever team gave him the best offer because the deal would be contingent on Aiyuk agreeing to sign a long-term contract. In that case the acquiring club would avoid a situation like the Jets have with Reddick.

While it isn’t good to have any kind of contract drama this late into camp, the 49ers can find at least a little solace that their Week 1 opponent is also working through similar headaches.

The Jets and 49ers are slated to face off on Monday Night Football to close out Week 1 of the regular season. Kickoff from Levi’s Stadium is scheduled for 5:15pm Pacific Time.