In the ongoing contract standoff between wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk and the San Francisco 49ers, the player has once again made a cryptic statement, hinting at a potential departure from the team. Aiyuk, who missed the team's mandatory minicamp two weeks ago, took to TikTok on Monday to share a video of his FaceTime conversation with former Arizona State teammate Jayden Daniels, now a rookie quarterback for the Washington Commanders.

Amidst their conversation, Aiyuk stated, "They said they don't want me back." Daniels responded with surprise, and Aiyuk confirmed his statement. The video ends with both players expressing excitement, leaving the contract negotiations further shrouded in uncertainty.

With training camp only five weeks away, more clarity regarding Aiyuk's future with the 49ers is expected to emerge. July has historically been the time when contract talks intensify, and the possibility of daily fines worth $50,000 for training camp absences looms over the situation.

Aiyuk added a caption to the TikTok video, writing, "I'm laughing but I'm crying fr (for real)." This follows Aiyuk's previous display of emotions earlier this year when he wore sunglasses to mask his feelings about his contract situation during the team's locker cleanout after their Super Bowl loss.

Despite the ongoing contract dispute, Coach Kyle Shanahan and General Manager John Lynch have consistently expressed their desire to keep Aiyuk, who has been the team's leading receiver for the past two seasons. Currently, Aiyuk is playing on a $14.1 million salary under the fifth-year option of his rookie deal, which is set to expire.

During the NFL meetings in Florida three months ago, Lynch emphasized the team's appreciation for Aiyuk's contributions and their intention to make him a part of the 49ers. Aiyuk responded on Instagram, hinting that money would play a crucial role in the negotiations.

Aiyuk's agent, Ryan Williams, has refrained from commenting publicly on the contract talks, although he did dispute a report claiming that Aiyuk had requested a trade before April's NFL Draft. Aiyuk, on the other hand, has utilized social media to make his contract demands known.

Several other wide receivers around the league have secured lucrative contract extensions during this offseason, raising the market rate for top-tier receivers to between $25 million and $35 million annually. Aiyuk is coming off his second consecutive 1,000-yard season, showcasing his value to the team.

However, the 49ers have already made significant investments in their receiving corps. Deebo Samuel is set to earn a team-high salary of $21 million this season, with Jauan Jennings signing a two-year, $15 million extension last month. Additionally, first-round draft pick Ricky Pearsall is expected to sign a rookie contract worth $12.5 million over four years.

As Aiyuk's contract dispute with the 49ers continues, the player faces a $100,000 fine for skipping the minicamp, which head coach Kyle Shanahan referred to as "contract stuff." Shanahan acknowledged the business aspect of contract negotiations while stating that the team understands the process.

The outcome of the negotiations between Brandon Aiyuk and the 49ers remains uncertain, leaving fans and analysts eagerly awaiting further developments in the coming weeks.