There was some significant news recently regarding disgruntled San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. He hired a new agent, Drew Rosenhaus, indicating that he’s trying to make a comeback to the NFL.
But it won’t be easy for Aiyuk to return. He’ll need to file for reinstatement from the Reserve/Left Squad list. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, that’s exactly what Aiyuk just did on Wednesday.
However, despite the news of Aiyuk’s push to make an NFL return, with plans to return to the 49ers facility on Friday, the 49ers are likely to cut him before then. Why? Well, the team has made clear they have no plans to keep Aiyuk around.
49ers likely to cut Brandon Aiyuk after WR filed for reinstatement
“Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk has turned in paperwork to be reinstated, per his agent Drew Rosenhaus,” Schefter reports. “Aiyuk, who is currently on San Francisco’s Reserve/Left Squad list, will be reporting to the 49ers’ training facility Friday afternoon, per Drew Rosenhaus.”
This is some significant news in the Aiyuk saga. For the first time since their split became evident last season, it appears likely Aiyuk will have a path forward in the NFL.
But with the 49ers and Kyle Shanahan making it clear during the offseason that Aiyuk isn’t in their plans, even with all of the injury issues at wide receiver, the 49ers are likely to cut him.
The 49ers had two options with Aiyuk this offseason: trade him to an interested team, or cut him. But since he didn’t file for reinstatement, the 49ers didn’t have to do anything this whole time.
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Now, with Aiyuk trying to make an NFL comeback, the 49ers will, almost guaranteed, release the veteran WR. No team, even the Washington Commanders, where Aiyuk likely wants to go, will be willing to trade for him.
There is far too much uncertainty about his abilities right now for a team to chance it with a trade. Not to mention the contract situation that no team wants to be a part of.
Fans should expect the 49ers to cut Aiyuk soon, potentially before he even gets a chance to return to the 49ers’ training facility.
His time with San Francisco is over, even as he tries to make an NFL comeback halfway through the 2026 season. Aiyuk is likely to be cut by the 49ers, as his file for reinstatement will finally move things along with his NFL career.
