Brandon Aiyuk's Agent Updates Plans for 49ers WR amid NFL Reinstatement Attempt

Brandon Aiyuk is planning to return to the San Francisco 49ers Friday after a yearslong split from the team.

Agent Drew Rosenhaus told ESPN's Adam Schefter Aiyuk plans to report to the 49ers Friday afternoon.

"We will be there tomorrow at 3pm to meet with the team at the facility," Rosenhaus told Schefter. "We will put our best foot forward and go from there."

There are complications with the receiver's potential return. As Tom Pelissero of The Ringer explained, Aiyuk could owe the 49ers $13 million:

It hasn't stopped his plans to return to this point. Rosenhaus told Schefter Thursday Aiyuk is healthy and "ready to get back on the field."

Aiyuk is under contract through the 2028 season but has not seen NFL action since October 2024.

He has repeatedly called for the 49ers to release him from his contract in social media posts over the past year.

Rosenhaus also told Schefter he had filed the paperwork to apply for Aiyuk's reinstatement.

The 49ers have been split for at least a year from Aiyuk, who suffered his season-ending right knee injury in October 2024.

Aiyuk remained sidelined for the start of the 2025 season. The Athletic's Dianna Russini and Michael Silver reported in November the 49ers had voided Aiyuk's guarantees for 2026 because Aiyuk had "failed to attend meetings and declined to participate in other team activities in recent months."

The wide receiver said in a June Instagram video the Niners had also voided his guarantees for the 2027 season.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan said Wednesday he had "moved on mentally" from Aiyuk's situation.

When asked Thursday on KNBR's Dirty Work if Aiyuk could do anything to change that, Shanahan said, "Not that I could think of... There's no absolutes, and I'll talk to anybody."

Shanahan added there was no Friday meeting currently scheduled between him or his team and Aiyuk.

General manager John Lynch said the same day on KNBR's Murph & Marcus show "everything's possible" regarding Aiyuk.

"Number one, we've got a 6-1 football team that we think's really got a shot at this thing this year, so our focus is going to remain on this team," Lynch said.

Lynch continued, "I will say this. We've worked with Drew a lot. Drew is a good guy to deal with... We'll see how this thing goes. I'll leave it at that."

49ers tight end George Kittle said Thursday he would "plead the fifth" about whether he felt Aiyuk would ultimately get into the Niners facility (h/t 49ers on SI's Grant Cohn).

San Francisco has ultimately paid Aiyuk $48.1 million for just seven games since he signed his extension in August 2024.

The 49ers would have to take on $12.4 million in dead cap this season and $19.3 million in dead cap next season in order to release the remainder of that contract, per Spotrac's Mike Ginnitti .

The Niners will get at least $4.99 million back as a salary cap credit next season, and could get more money back in the future by recouping some of Aiyuk's previous bonuses, Ginnitti noted. The 49ers currently have $32.1 million in 2026 cap space, per Spotrac .

The San Francisco Standard 's David Lombardi reported the 49ers could also require Aiyuk to pass a physical and place him on injured reserve if he doesn't pass.

That would mean the 49ers wouldn't have to give up a roster spot and would owe Aiyuk around $715,000 in prorated salary, Lombardi reported.

The 49ers are currently preparing for a Sunday matchup against the visiting Las Vegas Raiders. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:25 p.m. ET in Santa Clara.