Player News

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

  6D ago • 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

  12D ago • 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: Could still play for team in 2025

  15D ago • By RotoWire

  The 49ers remain committed to getting Aiyuk (knee) "healthy and back on the field" in 2025, even though the team had approximately $27 million in guarantees for the 2026 season voided in his contract, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports. Dianna Russini and Michael Silver of The Athletic broke the news Friday about Aiyuk's guaranteed money for 2026 being voided after the 49ers asserted that he failed to fulfill contractual obligations, but head coach Kyle Shanahan noted Saturday that the financial maneuver happened back in late July, per Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com. Shanahan didn't offer many specifics regarding what led to the team's decision to void the guaranteed money, but the coach acknowledged that Aiyuk remains engaged with the team and was at the 49ers' facility doing rehab work for his surgically repaired right knee as recently as Friday. While the 49ers remain optimistic Aiyuk will contribute at some point this season, a target date for his potential debut won't become clearer until the team opens his 21-day practice window. If Aiyuk doesn't end up playing before the season ends, his time in San Francisco could well be over, as the 49ers may be keen on moving on from the wideout during the offseason. A trade would likely be the preferred route if the 49ers part ways with Aiyuk; if he's released outright with no post-June 1 designation, San Francisco would incur a dead-cap charge of $29.585 million.

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• 49ers' Brandon Aiyuk: Future with franchise uncertain

  17D ago • 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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• 49ers' Brandon Aiyuk: Out for Week 12, still week-to-week

  21D ago • By RotoWire

  Coach Kyle Shanahan said Monday that Aiyuk's (knee) 21-day practice window will not be opened this week, and he remains week-to-week, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports. Aiyuk will not play in next Monday night's Week 12 game against the Panthers, and he doesn't appear to be particularly close to a return to game action. The 49ers have a Week 14 bye, so perhaps Aiyuk will be able to practice at some point before that and potentially play prior to the end of the regular season. For now, the Niners will continue to roll with Ricky Pearsall, Jauan Jennings and Kendrick Bourne as their three main wideouts.

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