Brandon Aiyuk’s path back to the NFL is opening up, and the next stop may not be San Francisco.
The wide receiver has officially filed the paperwork to come off the Reserve/Left Squad list, which puts the decision squarely back on the 49ers. Aiyuk signed a four-year, $120 million extension in 2024, but the relationship between player and team unraveled after a torn ACL and a contract dispute that turned ugly. San Francisco also wiped out $27 million of his guaranteed money after he missed required team milestones.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Wednesday that Aiyuk is ready to play, and his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, reinforced that message. “Brandon is healthy and ready to get back on the field,” Rosenhaus told Schefter.
Now the 49ers have to choose whether to keep him, trade him or release him once he returns to the facility. Head coach Kyle Shanahan has not shown much interest in bringing him back into the lineup, which leaves the door open for another team to jump in.
Three teams stand out.
The Kansas City Chiefs make immediate sense. They need help at wide receiver, and Aiyuk would give Patrick Mahomes another proven target. If he’s fully healthy, he could bring a real boost to the offense, though Kansas City would still have to decide whether the contract situation is worth the trouble.
The Los Angeles Rams are also in the mix. They could use another outside threat while Davante Adams works his way back from injury, and Aiyuk would add another layer to the passing game. The question there is whether the off-field drama fits what they want in the locker room.
Then there’s Washington, which may have the cleanest fit of all. Aiyuk and quarterback Jayden Daniels played college ball together and remain close friends, making the Commanders a natural landing spot. Schefter also tied Washington to Aiyuk during the 2026 offseason, and he again pointed to them as a possible destination.
“I think they will be holding onto him to see if there’s any trade value at all. Washington does make a lot of sense,” Schefter said.
“He played with Jayden Daniels in college. They’re very close.
I’m sure Jayden would love to play again with Brandon Aiyuk.”
For now, the 49ers still control the next move. But if they decide to move on, Aiyuk could find a fresh start somewhere else very quickly.
In Other News...
Chiefs Revisit Familiar Receiver As Depth Battle Suddenly Opens
The Chiefs used a busy workout day to take a fresh look at depth across the roster, bringing in nine players for tryouts and ultimately adding wide receiver Jacob de Jesus to the practice squad. De Jesus is a familiar name around the building, having previously signed with Kansas City after going undrafted in 2026, and he arrives with a notable college rsum after leading the nation in receptions in 2025.
The tryout group also included several other wide receivers, defensive backs and a defensive tackle, but no other immediate moves were announced. For a team always trying to stay ahead of injuries and churn at the bottom of the roster, the timing matters, especially with the receiver room and a few other spots suddenly offering a clearer path to opportunity. [Read more 🡒]
Caitlin Clark Just Gave Chiefs Fans Another Reason To Love Her
Caitlin Clark has already become a familiar face around Chiefs Kingdom, and she gave fans another small but telling reason to appreciate her during a recent discussion about an Indianapolis Colts game she attended. The WNBA star, who has been seen at multiple Chiefs games with Taylor Swift, talked about being handed a Colts jersey for the appearance, even as she made clear her NFL loyalty still leans toward Kansas City.
The detail Chiefs fans will like most is the one she left hanging in plain sight: Clark was surrounded by teammates who went along with the moment, but she did not follow suit. It was a subtle choice, not some grand declaration, but it fit the way she has handled her football allegiances so far, with enough Chiefs support to matter and just enough restraint to keep the conversation going. [Read more 🡒]
Chiefs Are Chasing A Turnaround History Says Shouldnt Happen
Kansas Citys early start has put a familiar question back on the table: how much can a team rebound from a bad year when the core remains largely intact? After a 6-11 season in 2025 that was derailed in part by Patrick Mahomes injury, the Chiefs have opened this season 5-2 while trying to rebuild around their established quarterback instead of resetting the most important spot on the roster.
The historical backdrop is not especially forgiving. Only a handful of NFL teams have ever followed a season with six or fewer wins by going on to win the Super Bowl the next year, and those turnarounds came with a major change under center. Kansas City is trying to chase that kind of leap without making that kind of switch, which is exactly what makes this start worth watching. [Read more 🡒]