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49ers' Kyle Shanahan gives blunt answer on Brandon Aiyuk's return
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

49ers' Kyle Shanahan gives blunt answer on Brandon Aiyuk return from injury

The San Francisco 49ers beat the Miami Dolphins 35-13 on Sunday at Levi's Stadium and came out of it with another receiver hurt, as Demarcus Robinson was carted off with what Kyle Shanahan said looked like a high ankle sprain. At his postgame news conference, Shanahan was asked about Brandon Aiyuk.

Robinson joins Ricky Pearsall, who is out for the season after knee surgery, and rookie De'Zhaun Stribling, who is expected to miss about 10 weeks with an ankle injury from Week 1. Christian Kirk has been on injured reserve since the opening day of practice. Mike Evans also left Sunday with a hip injury. 

"No, it didn't," Shanahan said when asked if it looked serious. "It can always change tomorrow, but if the game was different, he would've been able to come back in."

"We'll see," Shanahan said of adding outside help. "I mean, it has been unfortunate. It was big losing Stribling last week. You guys know how big it was losing Ricky over the summer. And then losing D-Rob today was huge. Christian Kirk's got a couple of weeks before he can come back. But we've still got a group of guys out there that we have played with, that have done things. I'm sure we'll have to add somebody, whether it's to the practice squad or to the roster, but those are things we'll start discussing tonight, and hopefully, have an answer by Wednesday."

Asked if Aiyuk could help address the shortage, Shanahan said, "No."

What it would take for Aiyuk to play again

Aiyuk has been on the reserve/left squad list since Dec. 13, 2025, and a player on that list has to apply for reinstatement before he can return.

"Nothing has changed there," general manager John Lynch said in August. "He's on the reserve/left squad list, and as such, he's just not on our roster."

Aiyuk has not played since tearing his ACL, MCL and meniscus against the Chiefs in October 2024. The 49ers voided $27 million in 2026 guarantees after he missed required rehab sessions, and Lynch confirmed the team owes him nothing because of the default. Aiyuk, for his part, said this summer, "I will not be reinstating with [the 49ers] nor doing any kind of business with them." Both parties have now said no, which leaves a receiver under contract through 2028 without any path back to the field in San Francisco.

The offense held up Sunday, with Brock Purdy completing 20 of 22 passes for 287 yards and two touchdowns. Behind Evans and Deebo Samuel, the active receivers are Jordan Watkins, Jacob Cowing and KhaDarel Hodge, with rookies Wesley Grimes and Will Pauling on the practice squad. 

Shanahan hopes to have a decision on an addition by Wednesday, as he said.

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