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49ers' Brandon Aiyuk: Not an option for injury-plagued Niners
Rotowire
Head coach Kyle Shanahan said Sunday that he's not viewing Aiyuk as an option for the 49ers while the club contends with multiple injuries at receiver, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports.
After undergoing surgery in October 2024 to address ACL and MCL tears in his right knee, Aiyuk is likely fully healthy at this point, but the mercurial wideout appears to have worn out his welcome with the 49ers. General manager John Lynch said in January that Aiyuk had played his last snap with the franchise, and little on that front appears to have changed in the ensuing months. The 49ers still hold the 28-year-old's rights after placing him on the reserve/left squad list last December, and he's already had his $26.66 million salary for 2026 voided since he failed to attend mandatory rehab sessions and meetings. In order to force his release from the 49ers, Aiyuk will need to formally apply for reinstatement with the league, but he indicated in a July 7 story on his personal Instagram account that he has no plans to immediately do so, per David Lombardi of SFStandard.com.
San Francisco general manager John Lynch told reporters Saturday that Aiyuk (knee) will remain on the 49ers' reserve/left squad list, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Aiyuk is not on the 49ers' 90-man roster as the team opened training camp Saturday. Injuries and off-field issues had Lynch publicly state in January that Aiyuk will never play for the 49ers again, though it's unclear when a move to remove the veteran wide receiver from the team's roster will actually take place. Aiyuk signed a four-year, $120 million contract with the 49ers in August of 2024 but hasn't seen regular-season action since Week 7 of the 2024 campaign after tearing the ACL and MCL in his right knee.
49ers' Brandon Aiyuk: Interested in joining Commanders
Rotowire
In a video posted to Instagram Wednesday, Aiyuk (knee) said that if the 49ers released him, he'd sign with the Commanders "tomorrow," ESPN.com reports.
That said, it's unclear whether the Commanders would have interest in signing Aiyuk in such a scenario. Moreover, it's not a situation they can publicly comment on, given that the wideout is still under contract with the 49ers. Back in January, 49ers GM John Lynch said that it was "safe to say that (Aiyuk) has played his last snap with the Niners." However, since then the team has held on to the 2020 first-rounder in the hopes of finding a trade partner. San Francisco's veteran players are set to arrive at training camp July 25, with the report suggesting that it's possible the team is waiting until then to make a call on Aiyuk's status with the franchise.
49ers' Brandon Aiyuk: Issued arrest warrant for speeding
Rotowire
Aiyuk (knee) has been issued an arrest warrant on a misdemeanor charge of exhibition of speed by the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office, David Lombardi of SFStandard.com reports.
Aiyuk's warrant relates to a December video posted of himself driving nearby the 49ers' stadium. San Francisco GM John Lynch said back in January that Aiyuk will not play for the team again, while head coach Kyle Shanahan said in late March during the NFL owners' meeting that the team is in "no rush" to release the wideout and would prefer to receive some form of compensation via a trade. The 49ers inked veteran wideouts Mike Evans and Christian Kirk in free agency to join third-year pro Ricky Pearsall, as well as selecting rookie De'Zhaun Stribling in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft at No. 33 overall. Aiyuk did not play in 2025 while rehabbing from ACL and MCL tears in his right knee that he sustained during the 2024 campaign, and he was placed on the reserve/left squad list last December.
