San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk is set to return to the team's facility on Friday after spending more than a year away from the organization. His new agent, Drew Rosenhaus, confirmed to ESPN's Adam Schefter in a message Thursday that he and Aiyuk plan to report at 3 p.m. to discuss the 28-year-old's situation with the franchise.
“We will be there tomorrow at 3pm to meet with the team at the facility,” Rosenhaus texted. “We will put our best foot forward and go from there.”
Aiyuk has already submitted the necessary paperwork to seek reinstatement to the NFL. Reporting to the facility is required for him to be removed from the reserve/left squad list.
However, Aiyuk's anticipated return comes with several complications. He could reportedly owe the 49ers approximately $13 million in forfeited bonuses. The NFL Management Council and NFL Players Association are involved in efforts to settle the financial dispute, which may involve an agreement between the parties or proceed to arbitration.
Aiyuk has not appeared in an NFL game since October 2024, when he suffered season-ending ACL and MCL injuries during a Week 7 matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs. His absence continued into the 2025 season, while his relationship with San Francisco deteriorated.
The 49ers voided his guaranteed money for 2026 after reportedly citing his failure to attend meetings and participate in other team activities. Aiyuk subsequently claimed that his 2027 guarantees had also been voided. He also expressed his frustration with the organization through multiple social media posts and repeatedly sought his release.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan has made little effort to hide his stance on the situation. He said on Wednesday that he had mentally moved on from Aiyuk and reiterated Thursday that he could not think of anything the receiver could do to change that position. Shanahan also acknowledged that he had no meeting scheduled with Aiyuk on Friday.
General manager John Lynch, meanwhile, said that everything remained possible while acknowledging the team's discussions with the NFL. San Francisco has several potential options, including bringing Aiyuk back, releasing him or exploring a trade.
The financial implications of a potential release also remain considerable. The 49ers have paid Aiyuk $48.1 million for just seven games since signing his contract extension in August 2024. Releasing him would reportedly create $12.4 million in dead-cap charges for 2026 and another $19.3 million in 2027.