49ers' Aiyuk 'I Don't Know' Status Reveals Brutal Truth

The San Francisco 49ers created this pig-ugly mess. So maybe it's to their credit that they're not bothering to paint lipstick on it.

The uncertainty now is when he will take the field with his team.

The 49ers brass could announce how they are actually elated that the trade option is now off the table, that the receiver's now-locked in $76 million deal is going to pay off, and that the injury rehab is going swimmingly.

Instead ... 

“I don’t know,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said this week at the NFL Annual Meeting in Palm Beach, Florida when asked about Aiyuk's health-related availability for the start of the 2025 season.

General manager John Lynch did say that Aiyuk had a recent appointment with performing surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache, and the GM said some nice things there.

“We’re pleased with Brandon’s progress,” Lynch said. “He’s been working hard and got good reviews from Dr. ElAttrache. That was a key marker, as I mentioned it would be. He did well.”

And Shanahan doesn't mean to be dismissive about it.

“It’s too early to tell,'' the coach made sure to add. "The goal is always early (to have a guy back). You hope to have him right away. We were told by his doctor there’s a chance. 

"But it’s too early in the process and we’ll see when we get closer to training camp and see what it looks like.”

Aiyuk sustained a season-ending knee injury on Oct. 20 against the Kansas City Chiefs, as he sustained tears to his ACL and MCL.

He was trade bait before that, and he was trade bait again this offseason - a window that slammed shut on Tuesday when the 49ers were (with no swap) obliged to pick up a $22.85 million option bonus.

Deebo Samuel has been traded to the Washington Commanders for fifth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, so it would be a saving grace for the the 49ers to get Aiyuk to return close to his form of 2023.

That year, he caught 75 balls for a career-high 1,342 yards in his fourth NFL season and made All-Pro, all of which led to him signing a four-year, $120 million contract extension just prior to the start of the 2024 regular season.

Aiyuk is still just 27. This can still work out, for him and for the 49ers, who in the spring will be goingf with Jauan Jennings and Ricky Pearsall as their top wide receivers..

But for now? This ain't pretty. And the 49ers aren't pretending otherwise.