After months of drama surrounding wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk‘s future, the 49ers handed him a four-year, $120MM extension in August 2024. Considering how Aiyuk’s career has gone since then, it’s a move the 49ers would likely undo if given the chance.
After Aiyuk got off to a slow start last year, his season ended with a torn right ACL, MCL, and meniscus in Week 7. Aiyuk hasn’t played since, and his relationship with the team has soured during his lengthy absence. The 49ers voided Aiyuk’s guarantees for 2026 back in July, which came after he declined to attend offseason appointments to rehab his knee. Aiyuk had a 50-day window to file a grievance through the NFLPA to attempt to recoup his $26MM-plus in guarantees, but he opted against doing that.
Approximately 14 months since Aiyuk suffered his injury, he still hasn’t been physically cleared to return. Aiyuk is rehabbing, though, general manager John Lynch told KNBR on Tuesday (via Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group).
When asked about the potential of Aiyuk playing in 2025, Lynch said: “Realistic, I’m not sure. Hopeful, yeah.”
The 49ers have seen seven different targets catch between 20 and 85 passes during their 9-4 start. Quarterbacks Brock Purdy and Mac Jones haven’t lacked options, but Lynch maintains that the 49ers are “a better team” when Aiyuk is healthy.
While Aiyuk remains on the reserve/PUP list, the 49ers could open his 21-day practice window at some point. Doing so would give the NFC West contenders a chance to evaluate whether Aiyuk will be able to help them late in the regular season and/or in the playoffs.
Currently on a bye, the 49ers will not open Aiyuk’s window this week, according to head coach Kyle Shanahan. Despite Lynch’s statements, odds are the team will not bring him back this season, per Nick Wagoner of ESPN. If that’s the case, Aiyuk has probably played his last down with the 49ers, who seem primed to either release or trade him during the offseason.
Moving on from Aiyuk before June 1 would leave San Francisco with $29.585MM in dead money, Dan Graziano of ESPN notes. Alternatively, designating Aiyuk as a post-June 1 release would give the 49ers the opportunity to spread the dead cap over two years. They’d be on the hook for $13.25MM in 2026. The same goes for a post-June 1 trade, though it seems more likely that the soon-to-be 28-year-old will hit the open market and find his next team in free agency.