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nick wagner
Santa Clara, California – However san francisco 49ers The receiver publicly expressed some hope brandon ayuk That optimism he would bounce back this season was dashed Saturday when the team moved Aiyuk to the reserve/left team list.
That designation, which is typically used for players who intend to either retire or temporarily step away from football, means Aiyuk is ineligible to play for the 49ers in 2025. Aiyuk, who is recovering from a torn ACL, MCL and meniscus in his right knee, has not been seen around the facility in recent weeks, and his placement on the list suggests he is not around the team or participating in rehab sessions.
This is likely the next step in the offseason divorce between the Niners and Aiyuk. Niners had a tough finish on Thursday george kittel Indicated that Aiyuk was unlikely to return.
“At this point, it doesn’t look like he’s coming back,” Kittle said. “I try hard not to even think about it because I love Brandon. He’s one of my favorite teammates that I’ve played with. We have a lot of moments from his freshman year, every year we’ve played together. That’s the Brandon I remember. So, if I think about ‘I wish he was here,’ it makes me sad.”
The extent of the discord between the two sides became public late last month when it was revealed that the Niners had voided nearly $27 million guaranteed in Aiyuk’s 2026 contract. This occurred in the summer as Aiyuk missed team rehabilitation sessions for his injured right knee.
Before Saturday, Aiyuk had spent this season on the physically unable to perform list due to a knee injury, with the Niners hoping they could open up his 21-day practice window somewhere and potentially get him back on the field.
Coach Kyle Shanahan said at the beginning of the season the expectation was that Aiyuk would return to practice sometime around mid-season.
As recently as early December, general manager John Lynch expressed some hope that Aiyuk could practice, but acknowledged that it was a long shot.
,[Is it] Realistic? I’m not sure,” Lynch told KNBR radio on December 2. “Hopefully? Yes. I guess I’ll just leave it at that…we’re a better football team when Brandon is in there, but that’s probably it. Hope.”
After signing a four-year, $120 million contract extension with the Niners in August 2024 following controversial negotiations, Aiyuk injured his knee on October 20, 2024. He had surgery the following month and has been working toward a comeback since then.
Now, the Niners and Aiyuk are likely to part ways this offseason and a decision on how that will happen is still to be made.
Since the 49ers voided his future guarantees, they will incur a dead money cap charge of approximately $30 million if they release him in the offseason. They can designate him for release after June 1 next year to eat $13.325 million in dead money and the remainder in 2027. The same numbers would apply if the Niners were able to trade Aiyuk.
