Brandon Aiyuk Submits Reinstatement Request to NFL
The receiver, sidelined since October 2024, aims to report to San Francisco on Friday after voiding $27 million in guaranteed money.
By Riya Zhao ·
Brandon Aiyuk officially submitted paperwork to the NFL on Wednesday to be reinstated from the reserve/left squad list. His new agent, Drew Rosenhaus, confirmed that the receiver is now scheduled to report to the San Francisco 49ers facility on Friday. This move marks the latest step in a dispute that has kept the 28-year-old away from active duty for two years.
The timeline of Aiyuk's absence stretches back to the start of the 2024 season. He signed a four-year, $120 million extension just before that campaign began, following a contract hold-in that kept him out of training camp. He played in seven games that year, recording 25 catches for 374 yards, before suffering a knee injury in October 2024. Since then, he has not played a regular-season game.
The dispute intensified during the offseason. Aiyuk fired his former agent, Ryan Williams, and remained without representation for a period before hiring Rosenhaus. During the summer, while rehabilitating his knee, Aiyuk missed mandatory team meetings and activities. In response, the 49ers voided $27 million in guaranteed money from his 2026 contract. General Manager John Lynch stated previously that he does not expect Aiyuk to play for San Francisco again, though the player remains under contract.
Head Coach Kyle Shanahan said the front office has been in contact with Rosenhaus. When asked about his reaction to the reinstatement request, Shanahan said, “I have no expectation. Kind of moved on with that mentally and everything.. Nothing’s really changed for me.” He noted that any decision regarding a trade or release would occur after Aiyuk reports to the team. When pressed on the possibility of the receiver playing for San Francisco, Shanahan replied, “there are no absolutes in life.”
The 49ers also made several roster moves during the week. Defensive end Nick Bosa returned to practice after missing the previous five games with a left calf injury. Bosa said he believes he injured the calf by overcompensating for tendinitis in his right knee while recovering from ACL surgery. “Calves are a pretty long process. I’ve never had one. It took a little longer than I expected,” Bosa said.
Cornerback Nate Hobbs and receiver Demarcus Robinson were opened up from injured reserve. The team has three weeks to decide whether to activate them. Hobbs is dealing with a groin injury, while Robinson has an ankle issue. The 49ers must make their roster decisions for these players within the three-week window.
Several other key players missed practice. Running back Christian McCaffrey, who has a hamstring injury, is expected to return to practice on Thursday in a limited capacity. McCaffrey said the week off helped his recovery. Receiver Mike Evans, who is dealing with an Achilles issue, made progress according to Shanahan, but the coach said the team will wait until Evans is fully healthy. “We’re not going to overly do it. We just want to wait until he’s healthy, and he’s still working his way to get there,” Shanahan said.
Receiver Deebo Samuel, who has a hamstring injury, is expected to miss at least one more game. Safety Siran Neal, dealing with knee and foot issues, also sat out practice. Aiyuk’s career stats since being drafted in the first round in 2020 stand at 294 catches for 4,305 yards and 25 touchdowns. His last active season was 2023, when he recorded 75 catches for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns, earning second-team All-Pro honors.
