Brandon Aiyuk
Wide Receiver #11
Brandon Aiyuk News
Brandon Aiyuk Reinstatment Being Delayed Over Bonus Dispute
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (knee) recently met with the organization to discuss being reinstated. Aiyuk submitted the paperwork to be reinstated in late October, but there has yet to be a resolution. The biggest obstacle is the fact that Aiyuk owes the 49ers $13 million in bonus forfeitures. The expectation is that Aiyuk won't be reinstated until he pays back the money to the 49ers. The 28-year-old wideout hasn't played since suffering a torn ACL mid-season during the 2024 campaign. He claims to be fully healthy and ready to play again. It's unlikely that Aiyuk ever takes another snap for the 49ers, but he probably won't be able to continue his career until he pays back the $13 million.
Nov 7, 2026 4:20 PM EST
Commanders haven't abandoned the idea of adding Brandon Aiyuk
The Washington Commanders "haven't completely abandoned the idea" of trading for San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, per Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport of ESPN. Aiyuk has not played in the NFL since tearing his ACL midway through the 2024 season. While the 28-year-old is reportedly fully healthy and looking to get back in the league, he's currently locked in a complicated standoff with the 49ers. Aiyuk reportedly owes San Francisco $13 million in bonus forfeitures after essentially abandoning the team during the 2025 season, and it's unclear how long it will take him to be reinstated from the NFL's reserve/left squad list. Aiyuk was highly productive in his last fully healthy campaign, recording 75 catches for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns on 105 targets across 16 games in 2023. Aiyuk carries some deep-league stash appeal for fantasy managers, but it does not appear that his return to the NFL is imminent.
Nov 7, 2026 4:39 AM EST
Brandon Aiyuk is Not Reinstated on Transaction Report
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (knee) reportedly had his meeting with the organization on Friday. Aiyuk is feeling great and is 100 percent healthy after missing all of last season due to a torn ACL. The 28-year-old is attempting to get reinstated, but it's a bit of a complicated issue. Aiyuk owes roughly $13 million in bonus forfeitures, so we'll see how long it takes for him to get reinstated. He wasn't on the Friday's transaction log as being reinstated, so this could be something that takes time. It doesn't sound like the 49ers want anything to do with Aiyuk anymore, so he'll need to find another team once he does get reinstated. There's some stash value here, but fantasy managers might need to be patient.
Nov 6, 2026 4:34 PM EST
Brandon Aiyuk Says He's "Feeling Great"
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (knee) arrived for his meeting with the 49ers on Friday and said he is "feeling great" and is 100% healthy after missing all of last year due to a torn ACL that he suffered back in 2024, according to Matt Barrows of The Athletic. "Feeling great, feeling healthy. Long recovery process, long rehab process, but I'm back to a hundred percent. Looking to get reinstated into the National Football League," Aiyuk said. The 28-year-old might have recovered from his season-ending knee injury in 2024, but the former first-rounder from Arizona State remains on the 49ers' left-squad list, and his return to the NFL field is a complicated one since he owes roughly $13 million in bonus forfeitures as he attempts to be reinstated. By showing up and hiring new representation, Aiyuk is hoping to force his release from the Niners so that he can sign with another team. It is completely unclear how quickly he will be able to do that, and even if Aiyuk were to join a new organization, the matter of his health and conditioning would be a big question mark. Aiyuk is currently rostered in only 7% of Yahoo leagues and will need to find a new team before most fantasy managers will take him seriously as a waiver-wire pickup.
Nov 6, 2026 2:37 PM EST
Brandon Aiyuk's Arrest Warrant Remains Active
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk still has an active arrest warrant stemming from an alleged December 2025 speeding incident near Levi's Stadium, according to Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area. The Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office confirmed Friday that the warrant remains active. Aiyuk faces a misdemeanor charge of exhibition of speed connected to a driving video he posted online, with the warrant first reported publicly in June. The development comes as Aiyuk and his new agent, Drew Rosenhaus, prepare to meet with the 49ers on Friday afternoon after the receiver filed paperwork seeking reinstatement from the reserve/left squad list. The NFL had not approved his reinstatement as of Friday morning. There is no confirmed connection between the outstanding warrant and that delay, and San Francisco has yet to determine how it will handle Aiyuk's return. The 28-year-old has not played since suffering a significant knee injury in October 2024.
Nov 6, 2026 10:51 AM EST
Brandon Aiyuk Not Reinstated Rrom Left-Squad List Ahead of Return
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk is still waiting for the NFL to reinstate him from the reserve/left squad list, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Aiyuk filed the necessary paperwork Wednesday and planned to report to the team facility Friday, but his reinstatement has yet to be processed. He hasn't played since October 2024, and even if the league clears him to return, his future with San Francisco remains uncertain. The 49ers still have to decide whether to keep, trade, or release him. For fantasy managers, there's little reason to expect Aiyuk to contribute anytime soon. He remains a deep-league stash until his roster situation and potential playing time become clearer.
Nov 6, 2026 5:54 AM EST
Brandon Aiyuk Owes 49ers Nearly $13 Million in Bonus Forfeiture
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk owes the team roughly $13 million in bonus forfeiture, which is a potential complication in his efforts to secure his release by reporting to the 49ers' facility on Friday, according to Tom Pelissero of The Ringer. The NFL Management Council and the NFL Players Association are both involved in trying to resolve the situation. The sides could reach an agreement to pay back the money, or it could go to arbitration. The 28-year-old missed the entire 2025 campaign due to a torn ACL that he suffered in 2024, and the 49ers placed him on the left-team list late last year. If this goes to arbitration, it will delay Aiyuk's attempt to return to the NFL by forcing his release from the 49ers. It was already more of a long shot that Aiyuk would retain any kind of fantasy football value for the rest of the 2026 season, and this news makes it even more unlikely. The former first-rounder from Arizona State had back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving seasons in the Bay Area before his season-ending knee injury in 2025, but it remains to be seen what kind of shape he is in if/when he eventually gets another shot with a new organization.
Nov 5, 2026 5:44 PM EST
Brandon Aiyuk Reunion Not Ruled Out by 49ers
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk could still return to the organization, although general manager John Lynch stopped short of suggesting a reunion is likely. Speaking Thursday on KNBR, Lynch said "everything's possible" when asked whether San Francisco would consider bringing Aiyuk back, according to Harrison Rich of the San Francisco Chronicle. The comments represent a softer stance than Lynch's January declaration that Aiyuk had likely played his final snap with the 49ers. Aiyuk has applied for reinstatement from the reserve/left squad list and plans to report to the team's facility Friday afternoon. Lynch explained that San Francisco is working with the NFL Management Council toward a resolution, with releasing, trading or retaining the receiver among the possibilities. Head coach Kyle Shanahan indicated Wednesday that he has mentally moved on from Aiyuk, who hasn't played since suffering a significant knee injury in October 2024. With his playing future unresolved, Aiyuk remains without immediate redraft fantasy value.
Nov 5, 2026 11:09 AM EST
49ers working with NFL to navigate Brandon Aiyuk situation
The San Francisco 49ers continue to work with the NFL to navigate the situation surrounding wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, who has hired new representation in an attempt to get reinstated back into the league for the remainder of the 2026 season, according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN. "This is kind of a unique situation, not one you have, so there's really no playbook. But I always go back to what's my charge, what's my job? My job is to look out for the best interest of the 49ers. And as such, in this particular situation, we're working with the NFL Management Council to navigate through a different situation. And so it's fluid. I'm going to kind of leave it at that because I've been recommended to do so, and I think it's the right thing to do for a pathway for both sides here that works... We can talk a little more in detail about the process because it's kind of a fluid situation." The 28-year-old former first-rounder has been on the left-squad list since late last year, but the former first-rounder is now fully healthy after missing all of last year due to a torn ACL in his knee and is ready to join a team, even if the 49ers still do not want him back amidst all of their WR injuries. As for Aiyuk's rest-of-season fantasy football outlook, that is also a fluid situation. He had two straight 1,000-yard seasons before getting hurt in 2024, but we have no idea how he will look post-injury, or whether he will have a strong market if he ends up being released by San Francisco.
Nov 5, 2026 7:43 AM EST
Brandon Aiyuk Files to be Reinstated, Reporting to 49ers Facility Friday
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk has filed for reinstatement and is prepared to report to the team's facility on Friday, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Aiyuk has submitted his paperwork to the NFL to be reinstated after the 49ers placed him on the Reserve/Left Squad list. The wideout signed a four-year, $120 million extension with the team prior to the 2024 season but suffered a torn ACL that ended that season early. Aiyuk did not comply with rehabilitation requirements and left the facility. Head coach Kyle Shanahan indicated that he would not return to the 49ers. If Aiyuk returns to the field, it's likely he would be released by the team and play elsewhere, including the Washington Commanders, for whom Aiyuk has publicly activated himself. Fantasy managers should keep an eye on this situation, though it's unclear how the process between Aiyuk and the 49ers will play out.
Nov 4, 2026 4:37 AM EST
Brandon Aiyuk close to hiring new reps in bid to return to NFL
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (knee) is close to hiring new representatives in an effort to get back to the NFL and on a team, sources told Jordan Schultz. The 49ers still hold Aiyuk's rights, and Aiyuk needs to file for reinstatement after he was placed on the left-squad list last December. General manager John Lynch said all the way back in January that the 28-year-old former first-rounder from Arizona State would not play for the organization again, and that has not changed despite the 49ers dealing with the most banged-up receiving corps in the league through the first eight weeks of 2026. He has been completely off the fantasy football radar for that reason, and because we have no idea how healthy he is after he tore multiple ligaments in his right knee back in October of 2024, which caused him to miss the entire 2025 campaign. Aiyuk has reportedly been healthy, but his deteriorating relationship with the 49ers has not helped his cause as he tries to get back in the good graces of the league. Once he is reinstated by the NFL, the 49ers will be forced to either trade or release him so he can join another team. Aiyuk remains a complete wild card and is not guaranteed to play for the remainder of this season.
Nov 2, 2026 10:19 AM EST
No Resolution in Sight for Brandon Aiyuk
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk remains on the reserve/left squad list, and there's no indication that he'll be returning to play anytime soon. Aiyuk missed most of 2024 and all of 2025 while recovering from numerous knee injuries. He's healthy again this year, but some off-the-field antics prompted the 49ers to commit to never playing him again. At the same time, there seems to have been minimal trade interest in the veteran receiver. It wouldn't have been crazy to assume that a couple of receiver-needy teams made calls for Aiyuk, but there's no indication that has happened. Instead, Aiyuk remains off the field, perhaps making it difficult for him to get back up to full speed once he does play again. The 28-year-old has minimal value in dynasty leagues right now, so managers in many leagues could justify dropping him to waivers.
Oct 10, 2026 7:39 AM EST
Brandon Aiyuk Still Not an Option for Banged-Up 49ers
When asked if wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (knee) is an option amidst all of the team's injuries at the receiver position, San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said, "No," according to Matt Barrows of The Athletic. Going into the Week 2 game against the Miami Dolphins, the 49ers had already lost receiver Ricky Pearsall (knee) for the entire season and rookie second-rounder De'Zhaun Stribling (ankle) for around 10 weeks. In Sunday's blowout victory over Miami, veteran Mike Evans left with a hip injury, and Demarcus Robinson suffered what is believed to be a high-ankle sprain. Still, Aiyuk, who missed all of last year after having surgery to fix a torn ACL and MCL in his knee, remains on the left-team list and is not an option to play for the organization going forward. The former first-rounder is likely healthy enough to play, but they have moved on from Aiyuk after he failed to attend mandatory rehab sessions and meetings last year. Aiyuk must formally apply for reinstatement with the NFL to force a release from the Niners, which does not appear to be happening anytime soon. Evans is expected to be fine, but with Robinson likely missing around a month, Jacob Cowing, KhaDarel Hodge, and Jordan Watskins will be asked to step up behind Evans and Deebo Samuel Sr. moving forward.
Sep 21, 2026 8:22 AM EST
Nothing has Changed with Brandon Aiyuk, 49ers
San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch confirmed on Monday that nothing has changed with the situation regarding wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (knee), who remains on the left-squad list after roster cutdown day on Sunday, according to Matt Lively of CBS Sports. The 28-year-old former first-rounder has been off the team's roster since the start of training camp at the end of July. A season-ending knee injury in 2024 and off-the-field issues have forced the Niners to move on from Aiyuk, who went on a social-media rant against the organization this offseason, in turn scaring away potential suitors if/when the 49ers ever outright release him. The 49ers signed Aiyuk to a four-year, $120 million contract in August of 2024 before he proceeded to catch just 25 passes for 374 yards and zero touchdowns before tearing his ACL and MCL in his right knee in Week 7. Aiyuk did not play at all in 2025, and the chances of him re-emerging as a fantasy football asset in 2026 are drying up with each passing day. Fantasy managers in redraft leagues should not be drafting Aiyuk.
Aug 31, 2026 3:40 PM EST
Brandon Aiyuk Remains Estranged from 49ers
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk remains away from the team, and he is not currently part of the team's 90-man roster. The relationship appears to be severed beyond repair. Aiyuk missed the entire 2025 season due to a knee injury and missed ensuing rehab sessions, voiding nearly $30 million in guarantees. The 49ers moved Aiyuk to the reserve/left squad list in December of 2025, and that is where he remains. In January, San Francisco's general manager, John Lynch, said that Aiyuk most likely "played his last snap" for the 49ers. Aiyuk must formally apply for reinstatement to be released or traded, but he has publicly said he won't. In his last taste of NFL action (back in 2024), Aiyuk caught just 25 passes for 374 yards over seven games. Things remain at a standstill, and as a result, Aiyuk has no value in redraft leagues right now. At best, he is a dynasty stash in deeper formats.
Aug 25, 2026 1:27 PM EST
49ers Remove Brandon Aiyuk's Locker Stall
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk's locker stall has been removed from the team's locker room, according to David Lombardi. His stall had remained there even after Aiyuk left the squad late last season, but it is no longer in place. Aiyuk remains under contract with San Francisco and is still on the Reserve/Left Squad list, so nothing has officially changed with his status. The disappearing locker is another sign of a relationship that has been headed toward a split for months. The 49ers voided Aiyuk's guaranteed money for 2026 last year, and general manager John Lynch said in January that it was safe to say the 28-year-old had played his final snap for the team. Aiyuk hasn't appeared in a game since suffering a serious right knee injury in October 2024 and missed all of last season. Until his status is resolved, there remains little reason to expect him back on the field for San Francisco.
Aug 14, 2026 9:25 AM EST
Brandon Aiyuk Remains on Left-Team List
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (knee) remains on the team's Reserve/Left-Team list during training camp, meaning he doesn't count against the team's 90-man roster, and he isn't being paid, according to Spotrac. To be removed from the list, Aiyuk will have to submit a letter to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell seeking reinstatement. His contract still contains $26,662,370 of dead cap, which comes from his previously paid signing and option bonuses. If the 49ers release the former first-rounder in the coming weeks, they will take on dead-cap hits of $7,363,790 in 2026 and $19,298,580 in 2027. It looked like there might be an opening for Aiyuk to return to San Fran when Ricky Pearsall (knee) was lost for the season, but the return of Deebo Samuel Sr. quickly put an end to that. General manager John Lynch said back in January that the 28-year-old would never play for the organization again after boudmouthing the team and failing to rehab at the team's facilities last year. The Washington Commanders were mentioned as the best potential fit for Aiyuk for most of the offseason, but that ship has sailed after they inked veteran Stefon Diggs to a one-year deal on Wednesday. Aiyuk's fantasy and real-life stock has hit rock bottom.
Aug 5, 2026 2:47 PM EST
Brandon Aiyuk Could See Large Target Share if he Stays With 49ers
San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch said in January that wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (knee) would never play for the organization again, but has the team's stance changed following a potential season-ending knee injury to Ricky Pearsall? The Niners signed the 28-year-old Aiyuk to a four-year, $120 million contract in August of 2024, and then the former first-rounder from Arizona State played in only seven games that year before suffering a torn ACL and MCL in his right knee. Aiyuk was looking like an ascending young wideout before getting a big new deal, recording back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons with 15 total touchdowns in 2022 and 2023. His knee injury kept him sidelined for all of last year, at which point the off-the-field issues between Aiyuk and the 49ers started, causing the team to void the remaining guarantees in his contract. San Fran was hoping to trade Aiyuk this offseason, but they found no takers. He is on the left-squad list for the start of training camp, and the 49ers have been expected to cut him eventually. But with Pearsall likely done for the entire 2026 season, Aiyuk could be the team's locked-in WR2 behind Mike Evans if the two sides can put the past behind them. This scenario feels like a long shot, but we've seen crazier things happen.
Jul 30, 2026 1:32 PM EST
Brandon Aiyuk Believes he's the "Final Piece" to Bolster Commanders Offense
Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (knee) is still technically a member of the San Francisco 49ers, but he remained absent over the weekend for the start of training camp, and the two sides are eventually expected to part ways. Aiyuk spent much of the summer criticizing general manager John Lynch, head coach Kyle Shanahan, and the organization on social media. Lynch said back in January that Aiyuk would likely never play for the team again, but the Niners haven't found a trade partner and haven't outright released the former first-rounder. Aiyuk has repeatedly said on social media that he plans to sign with the Washington Commanders, and that he's the "final piece" to unlocking their offense, according to Matt Barrows and Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic. Before all of Aiyuk's social-media comments, sources said that the Commanders likely would have considered a short-term, highly incentivized contract with him if he was released. But the more Aiyuk has posted on social media, "the more he has seemed to jeopardize his hopes of returning to an active NFL roster." According to sources, Aiyuk's behavior changed after he signed a four-year, $120 million deal in August of 2024, and then he played in seven games that season before tearing multiple ligaments in his knee. In addition to being in limbo heading into the 2026 season, it's unclear what kind of shape Aiyuk is in physically. All we know is that his fantasy value has hit rock bottom.
Jul 27, 2026 8:07 AM EST
Brandon Aiyuk Remains on Left-Squad List
San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch said on Saturday that wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (knee) remains on the left-squad list, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. "I'm personally, and we as an organization, are going to focus on the players who are here," Lynch said. "We wish him well, we wish his family well," Lynch said. The Niners have been saying for a while now that Aiyuk will not play for the organization again after the two sides publicly exchanged barbs while he rehabbed a serious knee injury from the 2024 season. The 28-year-old former first-rounder in 2020 from Arizona State didn't play at all last year, and his off-the-field antics have essentially scared potentially interested teams like the Washington Commanders away this offseason. After signing a four-year, $120 million deal in August of 2024, Aiyuk played in only seven games before tearing the ACL and MCL in his right knee. At some point, the 49ers are expected to outright release Aiyuk, at which point his market could pick up going into the 2026 season.
Jul 25, 2026 11:00 AM EST
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