Latest On WR Brandon Aiyuk

Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic reports that the NFL Players Association has made multiple attempts to get in touch with Aiyuk, but they have gone unanswered. 

One of Aiyuk’s former teammates on the 49ers thinks the receiver’s antics on social media are a sign of desperation. 

“What I see is that he really wants to get back in. That’s what the antics show to me: It shows he’s desperate,” the ex-49er said. 

Another anonymous former teammate called Aiyuk a “distraction,” and points out that the receiver became increasingly hostile in team meetings, including interjecting while HC Kyle Shanahan critiqued another player.

“The humility was kind of gone,” the teammate said.

Saints WR Dante Pettis, who was Aiyuk’s teammate in 2020, said he still keeps in touch with Aiyuk but remains unsure about his situation. 

“I definitely keep track of him and try to check in on him. I figured there would be so many people trying to talk to him. … But I don’t know what’s going on,” Pettis said. 

Back in July, Ian Rapoport said people close to Aiyuk, including some currently in the Washington building, are more concerned with making sure Aiyuk is okay than with adding him to the team to play football. Rapoport added that the idea of signing Aiyuk seems like a long shot right now and listed off several other veteran receivers the Commanders could pursue to address their need at the position.  

The Commanders were believed to be interested in signing Aiyuk when he was released, but his behavior over the summer created doubts about that. 

It’s been clear for months that the 49ers and Aiyuk have no future together. San Francisco has been holding out for a trade, which also seems extremely unlikely. His guarantees were voided last summer and Aiyuk was placed on the left squad list, so theoretically there’s nothing forcing the 49ers to release him until Aiyuk petitions for reinstatement, at which point he’d be cut before his salary kicked in. 

However, Aiyuk has said he will not be doing any business with the team, including petitioning for reinstatement. He has also fired his agent.

The logical move is to petition for reinstatement and force his way out of San Francisco, but Dugar reports that Aiyuk still has not applied. 

Aiyuk, 28, was a one-year starter at Arizona State and earned first-team All-Pac 12 in his final season. The 49ers traded up with the Vikings to select him with the No. 25 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. 

He signed a four-year, $12,531,342 rookie contract that included a $6,673,703 signing bonus. The 49ers picked up his fifth-year option last year that cost them $14,124,000 fully guaranteed for the 2024 season. 

Aiyuk officially agreed to a four-year, $120 million extension that includes $76 million guaranteed after a lengthy period in which he was nearly traded to the Steelers.

In 2024, Aiyuk appeared in seven games for the 49ers and caught 23 passes for 351 yards receiving and no touchdowns.

We’ll have more on Aiyuk as the news is available.