Peyton Manning didn't hold back his criticism of San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon auk during Monday Night Football after a critical dropped pass in the 49ers 32 to19 victory over the New York Jets the drop occurred just before halftime and Manning speaking on ESN 2's alternate broadcast with his brother Eli Manning and former New England Patriots head coach Bill bellich pointed to auk's offseason decisions as a factor with just 15 seconds left in the second quarter at Levi Stadium 49ers quarterback Brock py launched a well-placed pass toward auk in the corner of the end zone auk diving to make the catch saw the ball slip through his hands a missed opportunity that could have added another touchdown for the ners before the break while the play wasn't easy it's the type of catch expected from a receiver of auk's caliber especially after the success he had in the 2023 season there's a reason for training camp you need it we need the Reps Manning exclaimed visibly frustrated By the Drop he added that by missing a significant part of the offseason iuk missed out on crucial practice time that could have helped avoid such mistakes Manning continued get those contracts done earlier so we can get in training camp and you don't drop balls on opening night auk's absence from the majority of training camp stem from contract negotiations with the 49ers the 26-year-old receiver held out while seeking a lucrative extension eventually signing a 4-year 120 million deal with the franchise just last month during the offseason iuk even requested a trade and at one point talks reportedly almost sent him to the Pittsburgh Steelers reflecting on the negotiation process iuk admitted that he made it a little bit more difficult than it needed to but eventually secured the deal he wanted despite getting his contract settled auk didn't practice with the team until just a few days before the regular season began Manning emphasized the impact of this delayed return arguing that no matter how much a player works out individually it doesn't replicate the chemistry built during training camp you're still catching balls at a high school field with some quarterback that is 45 years old my age you're not catching balls from your quarterback Manning said highlighting the importance of practicing with pry and the team get signed get in Camp and we don't drop the ball auk who had a breakout 2023 season with 1,342 receiving yards and seven touchdowns on 75 catches has started the 2024 season on a quieter note against the Jets he managed only 28 yards on two receptions from five targets while the 49ers secured a comfortable win in their season opener auk's slow start contrasts with the high expectations set for him following last year's impressive campaign as iuk settles back into the team Manning's remarks underscore a broader point about the value of training camp not just for physical preparation but for building Rapport and rhythm with teammates particularly for high-profile players like auk who play pivotal roles in a team's offense despite the rough start iuk still has plenty of time to bounce back but for Manning this missed opportunity was an early reminder of why the offseason matters