49ers' Brandon Aiyuk: Not close to returning from PUP
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49ers GM John Lynch said Thursday that Aiyuk (knee, PUP) is "not close" to returning, David Lombardi of SFStandard.com reports.
Lombardi believes a Week 6 return is not realistic for Aiyuk, as the wide receiver is still working to hit various markers in his recovery. Coach Kyle Shanahan said back in August that Week 6 was a reasonable target for Aiyuk's return to game action, but that is looking increasingly unlikely at this point. The 49ers will continue to work through injuries at the position, but Ricky Pearsall (knee) and Jauan Jennings (ankle) appear poised to lead this wideout room for the foreseeable future.
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49ers' Brandon Aiyuk: Week 4 Waiver Priority List
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Aiyuk (knee) might not make his season debut until Week 6, but you might want to stash him now, especially if you have an IR spot. If everyone is healthy for the 49ers, Aiyuk might be the No. 3 receiver behind Ricky Pearsall and Jauan Jennings, but Jennings just missed Week 3 with an ankle injury. And we'll see when George Kittle (hamstring) can return to action, with the earliest he's eligible being Week 5. That said, Aiyuk still has the potential to be a top-30 Fantasy receiver in all leagues, and if you can add him now for 1 percent of your remaining FAB then it makes sense.
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49ers' Brandon Aiyuk: Spotted running
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Aiyuk (knee) did some running while his teammates were practicing Wednesday, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
Aiyuk remains on the PUP list, out through at least Week 4 and unable to practice with his teammates. Neither player nor team has said much about the situation of late, but coach Kyle Shanahan did suggest in mid-August that Week 6 (against Tampa Bay) was a reasonable target for Aiyuk's 2025 debut.
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49ers' Brandon Aiyuk: Shifts to reserve/PUP list
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The 49ers moved Aiyuk (knee) to the reserve/PUP list Tuesday.
This is merely a procedural move, as coach Kyle Shanahan has circled (in his mind) a Week 6 road matchup with the Buccaneers as a possible date for Aiyuk to make his 2025 debut, per Vic Tafur of The Athletic. With this move from active/PUP to reserve/PUP, though, Aiyuk technically can return to action as early as Thursday, Oct. 2 at the Rams. He remains in recovery mode from the ACL and MCL tears that he sustained in his right knee Week 7 of last season. With Demarcus Robinson suspended for the first three games of the season, Jauan Jennings (calf) and Ricky Pearsall are the top wide receivers on San Francisco's active roster.
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49ers' Brandon Aiyuk: Could be ready for Week 6
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San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan said Monday that Week 6 could be a realistic target for Aiyuk (ACL) to take the field, Vic Tafur of The Athletic reports.
Shanahan preempted the estimate by saying he hadn't given the date much thought, but Week 6 nonetheless seems like a fairly realistic target for Aiyuk, who is recovering from right knee surgery that he underwent last November to address ACL and MCL tears, to make his 2025 debut. In that scenario, Aiyuk would figure to begin the season on the reserve/PUP list, then begin ramping his activity level up before hopefully taking the field Sunday, Oct. 12 on the road against Tampa Bay. Even then, it's conceivable Aiyuk could get off to a slow start and ramp his way up to a full starting share of snaps, meaning it would incentivize fantasy managers to plan ahead and roster alternative options at WR. With Jauan Jennings (calf) and Jacob Cowing (hamstring) still not practicing, and Jordan Watkins (ankle) out about a month, Ricky Pearsall and Demarcus Robinson currently are operating as the 49ers' clear top two wide receivers.
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49ers' Brandon Aiyuk: Keeping busy on sidelines
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San Francisco offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak said Tuesday that Aiyuk (knee), who remains on the active/PUP list, has been "kind of a coach on the side" throughout the early stages of training camp, Nick Wagoner of ESPN reports.
Kubiak said "it's been awesome" having Aiyuk mentor his positional mates during individual drills and walkthroughs, rather than being "just isolated doing his rehab." A timetable for Aiyuk's return remains undisclosed, but although the 27-year-old wideout has reportedly thrived in his rehab activities, it would likely be unreasonable to expect him to be available Week 1 as he works his way back from right ACL and MCL tears suffered last October. Still, Aiyuk's active mental involvement lends credence to hopes that he'll be able to hit the ground running this season whenever he is cleared to play. Meanwhile, Ricky Pearsall overcame his hamstring injury and was activated from the PUP list Sunday, while Jauan Jennings (calf) is currently sidelined and has been vocal about his desire for a new contract.
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49ers' Brandon Aiyuk: Moved to active/PUP list Friday
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Aiyuk (knee) was placed on the active/PUP list by the 49ers on Friday.
Aiyuk is eligible to practice while on the active/PUP list, though he isn't expected to be available for training camp as he recovers from a torn ACL and MCL in his right knee sustained in October. Fellow wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (hamstring) was also placed on the active/PUP list Friday, though he's expected to have a much more optimistic recovery timeline than Aiyuk. With Jauan Jennings (calf) unhappy with his contract, there will be more opportunities for Demarcus Robinson, Jacob Cowing and Jordan Watkins during training camp.
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49ers' Brandon Aiyuk: Reportedly thriving in workouts
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San Francisco general manager John Lynch said Thursday that Aiyuk (knee) has been "doing a tremendous job coming back," Kevin Patra of NFL.com reports.
Aiyuk isn't expected to be ready to participate in training camp in late July as he continues to work his way back from from a torn ACL and MCL in his right knee, but the wideout has made a positive impression with his recovery. Lynch commented that Aiyuk has been "putting in the work" and stated that "it's kind of incredible how well he's healing." It's not year clear when Aiyuk will be ready for game action, and he probably won't be active when the 49ers open the 2025 season Sept. 7 against Seattle. However, he's on track to lead the team's wideout corps when he does return following the offseason departure of Deebo Samuel to Washington.
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49ers' Brandon Aiyuk: Coaching up teammates at minicamp
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Aiyuk (knee) is present at San Francisco's mandatory minicamp but is not practicing, though he contributed Tuesday by coaching up the team's younger receivers, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports.
Aiyuk's recovery remains on track, but given the severity of the injury he's working back from, he's not considered a candidate to be ready for the start of training camp in late July. The 49ers haven't yet offered a tangible timetable for Aiyuk's expected return, but he's remaining involved at team activities despite not being ready to handle on-field work. While it's still possible Aiyuk is ready for the start of the regular season after tearing the ACL and MCL in his right knee last October, it's not a guarantee he'll be back to 100 percent form at any point in 2025. Even considering his deflated ADP in 2025 fantasy drafts, Aiyuk has to be considered a high-risk, high-upside selection. As he heads into the second season of the four-year, $120 million extension he inked with the 49ers last offseason, though, Aiyuk remains positioned to lead San Francisco's wide receiver corps when fully healthy.
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49ers' Brandon Aiyuk: Progressing with injury recovery
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GM John Lynch relayed Monday that Aiyuk, who tore the ACL and MCL in his right knee in October, met with Dr. Neal ElAttrache last week and got "good reviews" in terms of the progress he's made in his recovery, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
That said, there is still no concrete timetable for Aiyuk's return to action. Either way, Lynch noted that despite recent trade speculation, he expects the 2020 first-rounder -- who the 49ers signed to a four-year, $120 million extension last August -- to remain with the team this coming season. Due a $22.85 million bonus Tuesday, Aiyuk recorded 25 catches (on 47 targets) for 374 yards in seven games prior to his injury, and, once he's fully healthy, he'll be in line to headline a San Francisco WR corps that no longer includes Deebo Samuel. For now, the top available options behind Aiyuk are Jauan Jennings, Ricky Pearsall and Demarcus Robinson.
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49ers' Brandon Aiyuk: Undergoes knee surgery
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Aiyuk had surgery to repair the ACL and other damage in is right knee earlier this week, David Lombardi of The San Francisco Standard reports.
Aiyuk sustained at least ACL and MCL tears in that knee during a Week 7 loss to the Chiefs, so Lombardi's report indicates other areas may have been impacted in the hit that he took just before halftime in that game. Medical science has reached a point that Aiyuk could make enough progress in his recovery to be ready for Week 1 of the 2025 season, but additional damage to his right knee on top of what is known may delay his next game action. With Aiyuk out for the season, Deebo Samuel, Jauan Jennings and Ricky Pearsall will be the primary wide receivers for QB Brock Purdy the rest of the way.
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49ers' Brandon Aiyuk: Moves on IR
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The 49ers placed Aiyuk (knee) on injured reserve Wednesday.
Aiyuk has a long rehab path ahead of him after suffering ACL and MCL tears in his right knee during Sunday's loss to the Chiefs. The 49ers are left with Deebo Samuel (illness) and Jauan Jennings (hip) as their top veteran wide receivers for the rest of the season, and it's unclear if either will be available this Sunday against the Cowboys. Rookies Ricky Pearsall and Jacob Cowing and second-year pro Ronnie Bell are all candidates for significant playing time in the near future, especially if veteran backup Chris Conley (ankle) also is unable to play.
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49ers' Brandon Aiyuk: Torn ACL, MCL confirmed
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Head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed Monday that Aiyuk sustained tears to the ACL and MCL in his right knee during Sunday's loss to the Chiefs, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
Aiyuk will undergo surgery and miss the remainder of the season, ending it with 25 catches (on 47 targets) for 374 yards and no touchdowns in seven games. With Deebo Samuel suffering from pneumonia, Jauan Jennings dealing with a hip issue and Chris Conley tending to a sprained ankle, the 49ers' current healthy wide receivers on the active roster are Ricky Pearsall, Jacob Cowing and Ronnie Bell.
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49ers' Brandon Aiyuk: Believed to be done for 2024
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Tests on Aiyuk's right knee Monday revealed a season-ending injury, Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports reports.
The exact nature of Aiyuk's injury isn't yet clear, but the fear after Sunday's loss to the Chiefs was that it was a significant injury and possibly a torn ACL. While making a catch, Aiyuk was hit low and high by a pair of Kansas City defenders going opposite directions, forcing Aiyuk's knee to bend the wrong direction. It sounds as if he'll end the 2024 season with 25 catches for 374 yards and no touchdowns across seven games after he held out the entirety of training camp while seeking a contract extension. The 49ers eventually caved and gave the star wideout a four-year, $120 million deal. Deebo Samuel (illness) and George Kittle are likely to carry even more of the target load going forward for San Francisco, and Jauan Jennings (hip) figures to draw back into the starting lineup as an every-down wideout once he's healthy. Rookies Ricky Pearsall and Jacob Cowing and veteran Chris Conley would be next in line for snaps.
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49ers' Brandon Aiyuk: Injures knee, ruled out Sunday
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Aiyuk won't return to Sunday's contest against the Chiefs due to a knee injury, Cam Inman of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
Aiyuk picked up the health concern at the end of a 15-yard catch late in the second quarter. He was able to get to the sideline under his own power, but after visiting the sideline tent, he was carted to the locker room at the start of halftime, pointing at his right knee in the process, per Adam Schefter of ESPN. With Jauan Jennings (inactive) and Deebo Samuel (illness) also ruled out, Chris Conley, Ricky Pearsall, Jacob Cowing and Ronnie Bell are the 49ers' current healthy wide receivers.
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49ers' Brandon Aiyuk: Quiet night following breakout
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Aiyuk secured two of four targets for 37 yards in the 49ers' 36-24 win over the Seahawks on Thursday night.
On the heels of a season-best eight-catch, 147-yard line in Week 5, Aiyuk disappointingly regressed to the mean just four days later. Outside of the aforementioned breakout performance, Aiyuk hasn't topped 48 receiving yards or five receptions in any of his other five games. Nevertheless, Aiyuk projects to be busier in a Week 7 Super Bowl rematch against the Chiefs on Sunday, Oct. 20, a game where Brock Purdy will likely have to put up more than Thursday night's 28 attempts.
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49ers' Brandon Aiyuk: Held under 50 yards again
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Aiyuk had two receptions on five targets for 48 yards in Sunday's 30-13 win over the Patriots.
Aiyuk's early slog through the fantasy schedule continued for a fourth week despite the 49ers picking up a comfortable win over New England. The star receiver has seen his numbers slide down across the board since earning a deserved payday just before the start of the regular season. Aiyuk has yet to top 50 yards or find the end zone in any of his four starts this season, while No. 3 option Jauan Jennings led the team in receiving for the second week running. The 26-year-old Aiyuk has bigger fantasy performances ahead of him, with fantasy managers hoping that breakout moment comes in Sunday's home matchup against the Cardinals.
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49ers' Brandon Aiyuk: Set for No. 1 role sans Samuel
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Aiyuk is expected to serve as the 49ers' No. 1 receiver for at least Sunday's game against the Rams after San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan said Monday that Deebo Samuel (calf) is likely to miss "a couple weeks," Ron Kroichick of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
After holding out for all of training camp and the preseason before finalizing a contract extension with the 49ers in late August, Aiyuk has had a muted role in the San Francisco passing attack though the first two weeks of the season. Though he was back to handling a normal snap share in Week 2 (88 percent), Aiyuk still finished with a modest 4-43-0 receiving line on five targets in this past Sunday's 23-17 loss to the Vikings. Samuel ended up missing just one snap due to the calf strain he suffered with 2:18 remaining in the fourth quarter and was the busier of the two receivers on the day with an 8-110-0 line on 10 targets, but his expected absence for Week 3 and likely Week 4 should free up more opportunities for Aiyuk. Wideout Jauan Jennings and tight end George Kittle could also see upticks in targets, but coming off a 1,342-yard season and with a new four-year, $120 million contract in tow, Aiyuk projects to be the primary option in the passing game for quarterback Brock Purdy.
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49ers' Brandon Aiyuk: Slow start continues Sunday
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Aiyuk had four receptions (five targets) for 43 yards in Sunday's 23-17 loss to Minnesota.
Aiyuk was limited to five targets for the second consecutive week but saw his production increase against the Vikings compared to last week's two-catch dud against the Jets. The star wideout's low involvement was foreshadowed by head coach Kyle Shanahan prior to Week 1 after Aiyuk missed the entirety of the preseason schedule while in search of a contract extension. Dual-threat superstar Christian McCaffrey (calf/Achilles) was placed on injured reserve prior to Sunday's tilt and will be missing in action for at least the first six games of the season. Deebo Samuel (8/110/0) and George Kittle (7/76/1) have picked up the slack in the passing game while Aiyuk continues to reintegrate into the game plan. The 49ers have thrown just one touchdown pass through two games this season, so a Week 3 matchup against the Rams could be when we see Aiyuk break out of his early season slump.
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49ers' Brandon Aiyuk: Strikes extension with San Fran
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The 49ers and Aiyuk reached an agreement on a four-year, $120 million extension Thursday, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
The long offseason and preseason saga surrounding Aiyuk has now reached its conclusion, with the wide receiver reportedly getting $76 million in guaranteed money to stay in the Bay Area. Now that he's locked in with the 49ers for the foreseeable future, he'll be looking to uphold his standard as a 1,000-yard option in San Francisco's offense, something that he's accomplished in both of the past two campaigns.
