When George Kittle took a swipe at Brandon Aiyuk, it all but confirmed that the tight end no longer sees the wide receiver as a teammate. That was the biggest takeaway that generated headlines, but there was something hidden that could actually mean a whole lot more for the Washington Commanders.
Aiyuk is still waiting for the San Francisco 49ers to cut him loose. He's ramped up his social media activity, leaving no doubt about his interest in joining the Commanders. There is no rush on the part of general manager Adam Peters. But when the time comes, the option will be explored.
Kittle's veiled swipe at Aiyuk's off-the-field antics shouldn't go unnoticed. The tight end is the ultimate professional who has defended the wideout before things turned completely sour. Even so, what he said shortly before was far more telling.
George Kittle gives Commanders hope around Brandon Aiyuk's injury progress
The All-Pro took a keen interest in Aiyuk's recovery. He was always in the building before others, and he ran quickly and cut out of his routes impressively. That was eight months ago now, but it offers a window of encouragement if the Commanders do end up bringing him on board.
"I used to make it a habit of mine to go out early in the morning before meetings to watch him train because he'd always be out there early, and I watched him run over 22 miles per hour and watched him stop on a dime."
This might not seem like much, but it confirms that Aiyuk was making encouraging progress from his serious knee injury before everything changed between the player and the Niners. If he's built on this in the months away from the team, he might just be able to hit the ground running in Washington.
Kittle's observation won't be breaking news for quarterback Jayden Daniels. He's got a bond with Aiyuk that goes beyond football. He'll be fully versed in his recovery, how sharp he is looking, and how ready he is to make a lasting contribution. And he's no doubt relayed this information to Peters before a potential approach.
While Aiyuk joining the Commanders seems like a foregone conclusion at this point, it remains a risk.
He might be running quickly and moving encouragingly, but Aiyuk hasn't played a competitive down since midway through the 2024 campaign. That's a long time to be without football, especially when it comes to absorbing punishment. It could make him hungrier to succeed, but his previous production may also be long gone.
Washington has been warned about Aiyuk. But if there was ever a situation where he could galvanize his career, it's with Daniels and Peters.
The Commanders need more in their receiver room. Stefon Diggs' alluring glances haven't gone anywhere, and he's not going to wait around forever. Aiyuk has made his choice, and the interest is reportedly mutual. And if Kittle's comments are accurate, he might just have something to offer.
It could all go wrong, of course. Aiyuk can be a distraction, and he's not done his reputation any favors in recent months. But if the Commanders believe the talent is still there, they won't care.
That's the long and short of it, really.
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