Deebo Samuel shares how 'weird' it is to not share field with Brandon Aiyuk

49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk isn't absent from training camp, but he isn't practicing, either. His hold-in continues while he waits to either get paid or be dealt somewhere that will pay him.

Only time will tell if and when Aiyuk will be on the move, but fellow wide receiver Deebo Samuel doesn't want to get used to not lining up with his teammate of four years.

"You know, it's kind of weird for sure," Samuel said via Taylor Wirth of NBC Sports Bay Area. "I remember last year when we played the Giants [and Aiyuk was out with injury], I went to him, and I was like, 'Bruh, I never knew how weird it was for you not to not be on the field at the same time' and the time I was out, and he was out there by himself, [he] was just like 'I kind of see what you feel, it kind of felt awkward.' Being out there with someone for four years straight."

There's no arguing that San Francisco is a better team when both players are on the field, but this week's news supports the idea that Aiyuk will be traded more than ever.

Still, Samuel remains hopeful. He went through a similar scenario in 2022 and is a 49er. He requested a trade but ultimately reported to training camp and signed a three-year, $73.5 million contract extension shortly after.

"Business is business, and you know how it goes," Samuel added.

However, Aiyuk's contract situation feels a bit different compared to Samuel's. San Francisco has more stars than ever that it has paid or must pay soon, and handing Aiyuk a $30 million per year contract could prevent the team from retaining several other players.

Samuel understands Aiyuk is more than deserving of a new deal, coming off a career-high 1,342 receiving yards, and says there are no hard feelings regardless of how the situation plays out.

"I still talk to him every day. He's in meetings, we still chop it up," Samuel added. "And not even about the things that are going on, but just like brother talk. Regardless of whatever happens, that's still my guy, love him to death whether he here or he there or wherever."