The Brandon Aiyuk era in San Francisco appears to be ending with a whimper, not a bang. After months of speculation and a stalled reinstatement process, the 49ers are expected to cut the wide receiver on Tuesday, according to multiple reports.
NFL records show that Aiyuk's Week 10 salary of $1.52 million vests if he remains on the roster past Tuesday, which also happens to be the league's trade deadline. With no takers for the 2020 first-round pick, Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio summed up the situation bluntly: "The only realistic option is to cut him."
The 49ers had received a two-game roster exemption after Aiyuk was reinstated on Monday following his physical. That exemption gave the team until Nov. 23 to decide his fate, but the financial clock was ticking. Beyond the vesting salary, there's also the matter of his $13.75 million base salary for the 2026 season—a figure that made a trade all but impossible.
Aiyuk hasn't played since tearing his ACL, MCL, and meniscus in October 2024. He spent the remainder of last season on the reserve/left squad list after the 49ers placed him there in December. The 28-year-old hired agent Drew Rosenhaus before filing for reinstatement last month, and he's been vocal about his readiness to return.
"I'm feeling great, feeling healthy," Aiyuk said. "It was a long recovery process, a long rehab process, but I'm back to 100% and looking to get reinstated to the National Football League."
But the 49ers' coaching staff has made it clear they've moved on. Head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters Friday that he has "no clue" how the Aiyuk situation would unfold and that he couldn't "care less" about the outcome. "It's been over for our football team for a long time," Shanahan said. "So, I don't hear much except questions about him."
Shanahan's indifference was even more pronounced when asked about the potential of Aiyuk automatically being added to the active roster after reinstatement. "I'd have to ask a lot of questions to get that answer. I think it's complicated. I haven't asked one question," he said. "I look at this as it has zero to do with our football team. And anything that has zero to do with our football team, especially during the season, I will give zero thoughts to."
The 49ers explored trade options but found no suitors before Tuesday's deadline. NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports that an NFC team is considering adding Aiyuk to its practice squad "if and when" the 49ers release him. That's a far cry from the star receiver who once seemed destined for a long-term deal in San Francisco.
For Aiyuk, a fresh start could be beneficial, but the road back to prominence is steep. He'll need to prove he's fully recovered and can still be the playmaker who once torched defenses. For the 49ers, cutting ties frees up cap space and ends a saga that has lingered for months. It's a move that several NFL teams could capitalize on, as they look to add depth at wide receiver.
As the deadline looms, all signs point to Aiyuk being waived. The 49ers are ready to close this chapter, and Aiyuk will finally get the chance to write a new one elsewhere.
