Brandon Aiyuk’s Situation with the 49ers Taking a Sharp Turn
Brandon Aiyuk and the San Francisco 49ers are currently in a rather tense situation, one that feels almost like an impending breakup.
Recently, the team placed Aiyuk on the reserve/left team list, which pretty much wraps up his season. Coach Kyle Shanahan opened up about this shift, noting that Aiyuk hasn’t played since tearing his ACL last October.
“Honestly, I haven’t seen him in quite a while,” Shanahan mentioned. “That was their choice. For me, it was a straightforward decision. Our team hadn’t seen him in a month, so it wasn’t a concern for us. We’ve just been adapting to it.”
The situation surrounding the 27-year-old wide receiver has seemed murky for some time now.
According to reports, the team decided to void Aiyuk’s lucrative four-year, $120 million extension through 2026, mainly because he didn’t attend several team functions. It was claimed that Aiyuk, who had agreed to the extension back in August 2024, informed NFL Players Association representatives that he wouldn’t contest this decision.
This past Saturday, the team officially moved him to the reserve list, which, as noted by ESPN, ensures that players who choose to step back from football won’t accumulate any game snaps until 2025.
All of this has fed speculation that Aiyuk and the 49ers may be heading toward parting ways in the offseason. In light of recent events, tight end George Kittle shared his thoughts on Aiyuk’s plight.
“Right now, it doesn’t seem like he’s returning,” Kittle expressed. “I really like Brandon, and I prefer not to dwell on it too much. He’s genuinely one of my favorite teammates. We’ve shared a lot of great moments since our rookie days, so it’s upsetting to think, ‘I wish he were still here.’”
Aiyuk did see action in seven games last season before being sidelined due to his injury, posting 25 receptions for 374 yards—without scoring a touchdown.
Despite the Aiyuk saga, the 49ers recently secured a 37-24 victory over the Titans, improving their record to 10-4. They now sit in a wild card spot in the NFC playoff race.
