Niners pressure on WR Brandon Aiyuk could benefit the Steelers

It sounds like the San Francisco 49ers are done waiting for wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. According to NFL Network reporter Mike Garafolo, the hold-in Aiyuk held this offseason and preseason was one thing but now it is time for him to come practice and prepare to play.

If the Niners decide it’s now or never for Aiyuk and if he simply refuses it could necessitate a trade even if it isn’t the best deal for San Francisco. Pittsburgh has sat back patiently and waited to see how all of this will play out and they might finally be reaching a point where they will get some payoff for waiting.

If Aiyuk doesn’t blink and the Niners stand pat, that will become a San Francisco issue with fines and suspensions and such. But if the Steelers have really carried a barebones wide receiver group this far in anticipation of trading for Aiyuk, what is their next step?