Aiyuk seeks return to 49ers after two-year absence

Brandon Aiyuk submitted official paperwork to the NFL on Wednesday to return to the San Francisco 49ers. The move seeks to pull the wide receiver from the reserve/left squad list, a status he has held since late last season.

Drew Rosenhaus, Aiyuk’s newly hired agent, confirmed the filing. The receiver plans to report to the team in Santa Clara on Friday. Rosenhaus replaced Ryan Williams, whom Aiyuk fired during a prolonged dispute with the franchise.

Aiyuk has not played a regular season game since October 2024. He suffered a knee injury in that month, ending a partial season where he recorded 25 receptions for 374 yards in seven games. His last full appearance was during the 2023 campaign, when he posted 75 catches, 1,342 yards, and seven touchdowns to earn second-team All-Pro honors.

The path to reinstatement involves complex contract mechanics. The 49ers previously voided $27 million in guaranteed salary for the 2026 season. San Francisco took that action because Aiyuk failed to participate in meetings and other team activities during the summer following his injury.

John Lynch, the team’s general manager, has publicly stated he does not expect Aiyuk to play for the Niners again. However, the player will remain under contract with the organization once the NFL grants his reinstatement request.

Aiyuk signed a four-year extension worth $120 million just before the 2024 season began. That deal followed a lengthy contract hold-in that kept him out of training camp. He is now 28 years old and enters this chapter with 294 career receptions, 4,305 yards, and 25 touchdowns since being drafted in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft.