Brandon Aiyuk Will Report To 49ers Facility After Filing For Reinstatement

Brandon Aiyuk has turned in his paperwork to file for reinstatement, his new agent Drew Rosenhaus has said.

Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Aiyuk will report to the 49ers’ facility on Friday.

“Brandon is healthy and ready to get back on the field,” Rosenhaus said, per Schefter.

Aiyuk has not featured in an NFL game since suffering a torn ACL, MCL and meniscus in the 49ers’ loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on October 20, 2024.

Aiyuk has remained on the reserve/left squad list this season, having initially been given that designation last December after he stopped showing up at the facility.

The 49ers voided around $27 million in guaranteed money on Aiyuk’s contract in July last year after he failed to attend the required rehab sessions and team check-ins in the offseason.

Aiyuk did not report to the 49ers’ training camp this July, leading to him being placed on the reserve/did not report list before being given the ‘left squad’ designation to start the season.

The 2020 first-round pick was required to apply for reinstatement to the league to be able play again.

Having done that, the 49ers are left with a decision, and a potentially tricky distraction ahead of their Week 9 matchup with the Las Vegas Raiders.

It is now up to the 49ers to decide whether to keep Aiyuk, look to find a trade partner for him, or simply release him.

Given the apparent breakdown in the relationship between Aiyuk and head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch, him staying on the team looks extremely unlikely. The 49ers, 6-1 and the current one seed in the NFC, do not need the sideshow of Aiyuk reintegrating with the team, despite the obvious talents that made him a star.

The Washington Commanders have long been considered a likely trade partner. However, given his conduct over the past year, it remains to be seen if any team will be willing to give up any sort of draft capital to take a chance on Aiyuk.

As such, the 49ers may be happy to just cut their losses and move on. Aiyuk was, at one point, the perfect Shanahan receiver and, from a talent perspective, would be ideal for a team dealing with injury issues at that spot.

But, at this moment, with the promising position the 49ers enjoy and the baggage he brings, Aiyuk being anywhere near the team is the last thing they need.