Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Eight-Time Pro Bowler Says Pay Cut Hurt but He Did it to Stay With 49ers
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 8 months ago on
July 30, 2024

San Francisco fullback Kyle Juszczyk walks off the field after the 49ers fell to Kansas City in Super Bowl 58, Feb. 11, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP File)

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

SANTA CLARA — Kyle Juszczyk took a blow to his psyche early this offseason when San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch came to him following a seventh straight Pro Bowl season and told him he would need to take a pay cut to stay with the team.

It took a few days to process but Juszczyk decided it was best to stay in San Francisco on a reworked contract that saved the Niners about $4 million in salary cap room and paid him about $1.8 million less this year.

“At the end of the day, I feel like I have the best opportunity in the world to play here for the Niners,” said Juszczyk , also a Pro Bowl pick in 2016 with the Baltimore Ravens.

“I do think that I’m being taken care of in a good way as a fullback on this team. I am happy with my role. My ego took some shots, but at the end of the day, I want to be on a team that all these superstars are getting paid more money because that means they did something great the year before. I feel a part of that.”

49ers Released Armstead After Refusing a Pay Cut

The move with Juszczyk was one of several situations this offseason when the business side of football has taken a more prominent role for the 49ers. Defensive tackle Arik Armstead was released in March after refusing a pay cut and San Francisco is without two of its best offensive players on the practice field in training camp.

Star receiver Brandon Aiyuk is conducting a “hold in” this summer and not practicing as he seeks a long-term extension to replace the fifth-year option that would pay him $14.1 million this season. All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams is holding out as he seeks an improved contract.

“I feel like every year there’s kind of been someone in that position,” Juszczyk said about contract talks hovering over the team. “Honestly, I feel kind of well versed in it. It really is something that in the locker room, we don’t take personally and we understand that guys go through that stuff and a lot of guys have gone through it ourselves. I think there’s a good understanding.”

Juszczyk’s situation was complicated by the fact that only a handful of teams regularly use a fullback, limiting his options if he were to move on from San Francisco.

The Niners made him the highest-paid fullback in the game in coach Kyle Shanahan’s first offseason with the team in 2017 and have prioritized the position.

Juszczyk has caught 262 passes for 1,695 yards and 11 TDs and rushed 55 times for 186 yards and four scores in his seven seasons with San Francisco.

Added Role Under New Kickoff Rules?

He could have an added role this year as he has been working on kickoff returns as San Francisco seeks the right combination of returners under the new kickoff rules.

With the new play now looking more like a traditional offensive play, the 49ers have experimented on using Juszczyk and Deebo Samuel as tandem returners.

“There’s some real opportunities for big plays,” Juszczyk said. “I think I could help in that. I think Deebo definitely can help in that. I think we could be a good combo back there, because there’s a lot of moving parts. There has to be kind of a natural feel for those returners back there. You just have to be able to play off each other well. I think we do that.”

NOTES: QB Brock Purdy had a strong start to practice but ended it by throwing interceptions on four of his last five passes. … The Niners had their first scuffle of camp when defensive lineman T.Y. McGill and rookie OL Jarrett Kingston got into a shoving match after a play. … WR Terique Owens, the son of Hall of Famer Terrell Owens, had his best practice of camp and caught a deep TD pass from Brandon Allen.

 

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

Merced Police Chief: Local Sexual Assault Exams ‘Worth’ Higher Cost

DON'T MISS

Anjelah Johnson-Reyes to Headline Chukchansi’s Summer Series with ‘Family Reunion Tour’

DON'T MISS

Sue or Hold Back? The University of California Does Both as It Faces Trump’s Wrath

DON'T MISS

Central Unified Takes Additional Steps To Protect Undocumented Students

DON'T MISS

Americans Trade Michelin Stars for Mac and Cheese

DON'T MISS

Dueling Protests Clash at Fresno Tesla Dealership

DON'T MISS

Hamas Says It Accepts New Gaza Ceasefire Proposal but Israel Makes Counter-Offer

DON'T MISS

Andrew Tate’s Ex-Girlfriend Accuses Him of Sexual Assault and Battery in New Lawsuit

DON'T MISS

Protesters Rebelling Against Elon Musk’s Purge of US Government Swarm Tesla Showrooms

DON'T MISS

Plastics Are Seeping Into Farm Fields, Food and Eventually Human Bodies

UP NEXT

Anjelah Johnson-Reyes to Headline Chukchansi’s Summer Series with ‘Family Reunion Tour’

UP NEXT

Sue or Hold Back? The University of California Does Both as It Faces Trump’s Wrath

UP NEXT

Central Unified Takes Additional Steps To Protect Undocumented Students

UP NEXT

Americans Trade Michelin Stars for Mac and Cheese

UP NEXT

Dueling Protests Clash at Fresno Tesla Dealership

UP NEXT

Hamas Says It Accepts New Gaza Ceasefire Proposal but Israel Makes Counter-Offer

UP NEXT

Andrew Tate’s Ex-Girlfriend Accuses Him of Sexual Assault and Battery in New Lawsuit

UP NEXT

Protesters Rebelling Against Elon Musk’s Purge of US Government Swarm Tesla Showrooms

UP NEXT

Plastics Are Seeping Into Farm Fields, Food and Eventually Human Bodies

UP NEXT

Myanmar’s Earthquake Death Toll Jumps to 1,644 as More Bodies Are Recovered From the Rubble

Central Unified Takes Additional Steps To Protect Undocumented Students

14 hours ago

Americans Trade Michelin Stars for Mac and Cheese

15 hours ago

Dueling Protests Clash at Fresno Tesla Dealership

1 day ago

Hamas Says It Accepts New Gaza Ceasefire Proposal but Israel Makes Counter-Offer

1 day ago

Andrew Tate’s Ex-Girlfriend Accuses Him of Sexual Assault and Battery in New Lawsuit

1 day ago

Protesters Rebelling Against Elon Musk’s Purge of US Government Swarm Tesla Showrooms

1 day ago

Plastics Are Seeping Into Farm Fields, Food and Eventually Human Bodies

2 days ago

Myanmar’s Earthquake Death Toll Jumps to 1,644 as More Bodies Are Recovered From the Rubble

2 days ago

Top Vaccine Official Resigns From FDA, Criticizes RFK Jr. for Promoting Misinformation, Lies

2 days ago

If You Want to Ski Affordably Next Season, Buy Now

2 days ago

Merced Police Chief: Local Sexual Assault Exams ‘Worth’ Higher Cost

Last year, The Merced FOCUS reported that for the first time in over a decade, a crucial service for survivors of sexual assault would be of...

13 hours ago

13 hours ago

Merced Police Chief: Local Sexual Assault Exams ‘Worth’ Higher Cost

13 hours ago

Anjelah Johnson-Reyes to Headline Chukchansi’s Summer Series with ‘Family Reunion Tour’

14 hours ago

Sue or Hold Back? The University of California Does Both as It Faces Trump’s Wrath

14 hours ago

Central Unified Takes Additional Steps To Protect Undocumented Students

15 hours ago

Americans Trade Michelin Stars for Mac and Cheese

1 day ago

Dueling Protests Clash at Fresno Tesla Dealership

1 day ago

Hamas Says It Accepts New Gaza Ceasefire Proposal but Israel Makes Counter-Offer

1 day ago

Andrew Tate’s Ex-Girlfriend Accuses Him of Sexual Assault and Battery in New Lawsuit

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend