Rookie Brandon Aiyuk is 194 yards shy of Jerry Rice's 49ers rookie record with two games to go.
Brandon Aiyuk did more than just mimic Terrell Owens on Sunday in Dallas.
With nine catches for 73 yards and a touchdown, the 49ers’ rookie receiver continued his ascent in the team record book.
His 59 receptions already are the most by a 49ers rookie wide receiver — Earl Cooper had 83 as a running back in 1980 — and he has two games left to surpass some mighty big names.
For instance, with 104 yards, Aiyuk will eclipse Jerry Rice’s rookie record of 927. Sunday, the first-round draft pick (25th overall) moved past Gene Washington and Dave Park ls. With 733 yards, he is behind only Rice and Deebo Samuel, who had 802 receiving yards last season.
Aiyuk has scored seven touchdowns in his 11 games. The only 49ers rookies with more are Roger Craig (12, 1983) and Cooper (nine, 1980).
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 20: Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk #11 of the San Francisco 49ers runs for a touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys during the second quarter at AT&T Stadium on December 20, 2020 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
San Francisco 49ers' Brandon Aiyuk (11) is tackled by Dallas Cowboys' Anthony Brown (30) after catching a pass in the second half of an NFL football game in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)
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San Francisco 49ers' Brandon Aiyuk (11) celebrates his touchdown catch with Kendrick Bourne (84) in the first half of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (11) catches a pass in front of Dallas Cowboys' Chidobe Awuzie (24) and Sean Lee (50) in the second half of an NFL football game in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 20: Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk #11 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates a touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys during the second quarter at AT&T Stadium on December 20, 2020 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (11) is unable to catch a pass as Dallas Cowboys cornerback Chidobe Awuzie (24) defends during an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. Dallas won 41-33. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade)
Dallas Cowboys' Sean Lee (50) moves to help Chidobe Awuzie (24) make a stop against San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk after Aiyuk caught a pass in the second half of an NFL football game in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 20: Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk #11 of the San Francisco 49ers runs against cornerback Anthony Brown #30 of the Dallas Cowboys during the third quarter at AT&T Stadium on December 20, 2020 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
San Francisco 49ers' Brandon Aiyuk (11) is tackled by Dallas Cowboys' Anthony Brown (30) after catching a pass in the second half of an NFL football game in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020. Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy, right rear, looks on at the play. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (11) is tackled by Dallas Cowboys cornerback Jourdan Lewis (26) after a catch in the second half of an NFL football game in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
Dallas Cowboys cornerback Anthony Brown (30) stops San Francisco 49ers' Brandon Aiyuk (11) from gaining extra yardage after catching a pass in the second half of an NFL football game in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 20: Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk #11 of the San Francisco 49ers is tackled by cornerback Anthony Brown #30 of the Dallas Cowboys during the third quarter at AT&T Stadium on December 20, 2020 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 20: Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk #11 of the San Francisco 49ers runs for a touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys during the second quarter at AT&T Stadium on December 20, 2020 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (11) high steps into the end zone after catching a pass for a touchdown in front of Dallas Cowboys' Trevon Diggs (27) and Darian Thompson (23) in the first half of an NFL football game in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)
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His touchdown catch Sunday was on a jet toss from Nick Mullens on fourth-and-goal from the 2 late in the first half. After that score, Aiyuk celebrated by stretching his arms and gazing skyward. Except for the fact that he did it in the endzone, rather than sprinting to the Dallas star at midfield, it was reminiscent of Owens’ controversial celebration during a game in Dallas in 2000.
Also, T.O. did it twice. Aiyuk hasn’t had a multi-touchdown game. All five of his receiving touchdowns have come in the past seven games, with his two rushing touchdowns coming in Weeks 3 and 4.
(Incidentally, Owens had 35 catches for 520 yards and four touchdowns in his rookie season.)
Aiyuk drew 13 targets on Sunday, including a fourth-quarter throw that resulted in one of Mullens’ two interceptions that fateful quarter.
Asked how the offense tried to uplift Mullens, Aiyuk said: “All 11 guys on offense are worried about their own job. He’s a professional and knows what he has to do. If he misses a throw, he’ll be the first one to note he missed the throw.”
The 49ers deployed Aiyuk as their third punt returner Sunday, and he made a fair catch in the fourth quarter when they trailed just 27-24. It was the third straight game he’s made a cameo in that role, this time following Richie James (first-quarter fumble) and Trent Taylor.
Said Aiyuk: “They ask me if I want to go in at certain times, and today they asked so I went back there. I go back when they need me to.”
The 49ers (5-9) close out their season against the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday and Seattle Seahawks on Jan. 3, with both games at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.
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