The Washington Commanders aren’t out of the NFC East race just yet, so seeing the team make an impactful mid-season addition isn’t out of the question.
After losing Terry McLaurin to season-ending IR, it would not be a total surprise if the Commanders showed interest in upgrading the wide receiver room. One name has recently popped back up as an option for the Commanders: Brandon Aiyuk.
He’s filing for reinstatement to the NFL finally, and could be available soon. So, what are the Commanders’ thoughts on adding Aiyuk? ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport revealed the Commanders aren’t ruling out adding Aiyuk yet this season.
Commanders aren’t ruling out adding Brandon Aiyuk just yet
“The Commanders haven’t completely abandoned the idea of adding wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, who was rumored during the summer to end up in Washington, according to sources,” Schefter and Rapoport report.
This is a very interesting update for the Commanders, as their interest in Aiyuk is seemingly real enough that he has a chance to join Washington this season.
During the offseason, Aiyuk made it very clear he wanted to join the Commanders and reunite with Jayden Daniels. That didn’t happen, as he needed to file for reinstatement.
As the NFL enters Week 9, Aiyuk has finally taken the first step toward an NFL return. With the San Francisco 49ers all but guaranteed to move on from him, Aiyuk could wind up with the Commanders.
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But, will he actually come to Washington? It’s not a guarantee, especially since there are some significant complications with Aiyuk’s return to the NFL.
He reportedly owes the 49ers $13 million, which is obviously a big problem. Besides, he might not be fully healthy or in shape to play in the league right away.
While he’s making a push to return to the league, he hasn’t been reinstated, and it might take some time before he is able to join an NFL team again.
So, while the Commanders aren’t ruling out adding Aiyuk, such an addition is far from a guarantee this season. This might be something that happens over the offseason, rather than at some point during the 2026 season.
