Brandon Aiyuk’s 2025 Return in Doubt as 49ers Stay Hopeful but Realistic
As the 49ers gear up for the final stretch of the regular season, the question hanging over the team is whether Brandon Aiyuk will suit up again this year. Head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch both expressed hope, but made it clear that hope is about all they have right now.
Aiyuk, who suffered a serious knee injury back in Week 7, remains on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list. He’s been rehabbing, but there’s no concrete timeline for a return - and with just four regular-season games left, the clock is ticking.
Appearing on KNBR Radio this week, Lynch didn’t sugarcoat the situation.
“Realistic? I'm not sure,” he said.
“Hopeful? Yeah.
So, I think that's kind of where I'd leave that. He continues to rehab, and hopefully, that's... like I've always said, we're a better football team when Brandon's out there, and I hope that's the case.
But I think that's probably what it is - is hope right now.”
Shanahan echoed that sentiment, striking a similar tone of cautious optimism.
“Oh, I'm definitely still hopeful,” Shanahan said. “I'm not counting on it, but I'm definitely still hoping that can happen.”
That’s been the consistent message from the 49ers’ leadership - they’d love to have Aiyuk back, but they’re preparing as if they won’t. And given the circumstances, that’s probably the right approach.
Aiyuk signed a four-year, $120 million extension with the team before the 2024 season, a deal that signaled his importance to the franchise. But things took a turn in July when the team voided roughly $27 million in guaranteed money from that contract. That move came after Aiyuk reportedly missed team meetings and declined to participate in certain team activities - a situation that added another layer of complexity to his absence.
Even without Aiyuk, the 49ers have stayed in the playoff hunt. They’re heading into a Week 14 bye with a solid shot at the postseason, and if they can string together a few wins down the stretch, they could be playing meaningful football deep into January. That’s where the Aiyuk question becomes even more intriguing - if the team goes on a run, could there be a scenario where he returns for a playoff push?
For now, that remains uncertain.
The 49ers will be back in action in Week 15, hosting the Tennessee Titans on December 14. The Titans come into that matchup struggling, riding a seven-game losing streak and sitting at 1-11. They'll face the Cleveland Browns in Week 14 before heading to Levi’s Stadium.
With or without Aiyuk, San Francisco’s focus is clear: finish strong, secure a playoff spot, and keep the momentum going. But make no mistake - if Aiyuk were to return, even in a limited capacity, it would be a major boost for a team that already has championship aspirations. Until then, the 49ers are hoping - and preparing - for every possibility.