Brandon Aiyuk

Player News

• 49ers' Brandon Aiyuk: Still likely to be released

  03/11/2026 • By RotoWire

  The 49ers are still expected to move on from Aiyuk (knee) but won't necessarily release him Wednesday, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports. With the 2026 league year kicking off Wednesday afternoon, San Francisco can now release Aiyuk with a post-June 1 designation that spreads some of the dead-cap charge to 2027. Multiple reporters, including Jonathan Jones of CBSSports.com, have suggested that Aiyuk is likely to end up in Washington, where he'd reunite with close friend and former college teammate Jayden Daniels.

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• 49ers' Brandon Aiyuk: Won't play for Niners again

  01/21/2026 • By RotoWire

  San Francisco GM John Lynch said Wednesday that Aiyuk (knee) won't play for the 49ers again, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports. Reports in November suggested Aiyuk was angling for his release after the 49ers voided guarantees in his contract. He'll likely get his wish in the coming weeks, with Lynch now confirming that Aiyuk won't be welcomed back to the team.

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• 49ers' Brandon Aiyuk: Not ruled out from playing in 2025

  12/02/2025 • By RotoWire

  San Francisco general manager John Lynch reiterated Tuesday that he's still "hopeful" Aiyuk (knee) will play at some point this season, though he acknowledged that he wasn't sure how realistic the wideout's return might be, Cam Inman of The San Jose Mercury News reports. Lynch noted that Aiyuk is continuing to take part in rehab work for the surgery he underwent last October to address ACL and MCL tears in his right knee, but the 49ers have thus far declined to put out a target date for when the 27-year-old might be ready to practice. As David Lombardi of SFStandard.com suggests, the decision as to whether Aiyuk suits up in 2025 likely falls on the wideout's shoulders. While the 49ers would seemingly welcome him back if he's healthy enough to play, Aiyuk may not be as motivated to suit up after San Francisco voided approximately $26 million on his contract back in late July. Aiyuk is still on San Francisco's books through 2028, though the team will likely look to trade him this offseason if a suitor is willing to pick up most of his remaining salary. Releasing Aiyuk is another possibility, but the 49ers would incur a dead-cap charge of $29.585 million if he's cut outright without a post-June 1 designation.

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• 49ers' Brandon Aiyuk: Not practicing this week

  11/26/2025 • By RotoWire

  Aiyuk (knee) won't return to practice this week, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports. Aiyuk reportedly wants to sit out the rest of the season and then angle for his release rather than playing for the 49ers after they voided guarantees in his four-year extension. The team, meanwhile, is hoping to get Aiyuk back on the field at some point this season, though it presumably wouldn't be until late December or January. It's unclear if Aiyuk would be considered ready for practice if not for his displeasure with the 49ers.

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• 49ers' Brandon Aiyuk: Future with franchise uncertain

  11/22/2025 • By RotoWire

  Aiyuk (knee) is considered unlikely to play for the 49ers again after the team voided guarantees in his contract for 2026, Dianna Russini and Michael Silver of The Athletic report. The 49ers reportedly voided the guarantees in response to Aiyuk missing meetings and declining to participate in other team activities the past couple months while he finished up his rehab from the ACL and MCL tears he sustained last October. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said Nov. 10 that he was "pretty confident" Aiyuk would play at some point this season, but the wideout seemingly doesn't want to play for San Francisco at all. With the trade deadline having come and gone, Aiyuk may have to miss the entire season even if he's physically ready to play soon. He's in the first season of a four-year, $130 million extension, but the report suggests Aiyuk will angle for his release this offseason, rather than filing a grievance or agreeing to play on a non-guaranteed salary. He'll turn 28 in March and shouldn't lack for free-agent suitors if it comes to that.

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