The Brandon Aiyuk era in San Francisco appears all but over, and the 49ers are making it official. The team has placed the talented wide receiver on the reserve/left squad list, a move that renders him ineligible to return for the rest of the season and all but guarantees a split in the upcoming offseason.
This decision comes less than two years after the 49ers handed Aiyuk a four-year, $120 million extension-an investment that signaled their belief in him as a long-term offensive cornerstone. But things have unraveled quickly.
Last month, the team voided the guaranteed money in Aiyuk’s contract for the 2026 season, reportedly in response to his failure to attend meetings and other team activities. Aiyuk, for his part, declined to challenge the move through the NFLPA, a quiet but clear indication that he was ready to move on.
And now, it seems, he will.
It’s a disappointing turn for both sides. Aiyuk had grown into a true No. 1 option in Kyle Shanahan’s offense-a player who could separate at an elite level, stretch the field, and win in the short game. He overcame early-career inconsistencies to become a reliable, explosive weapon, and at his best, he looked like one of the league’s most complete receivers.
But the 49ers’ offense hasn’t exactly collapsed in his absence. In fact, it’s continued to hum.
That’s a credit to Shanahan’s system, the depth of the roster, and the emergence of rookie Ricky Pearsall, the team’s 2024 first-round pick. Pearsall has stepped into a larger role and earned the trust of the coaching staff, showing flashes of the kind of versatility and route-running polish that made him such an intriguing draft prospect.
With veteran Jauan Jennings set to hit free agency this offseason, the 49ers are likely to keep investing in the wide receiver position. Don’t be surprised if they dip into the first round again next spring to bolster the group. Shanahan’s offense thrives on dynamic, smart receivers who can win quickly and operate in space-traits Aiyuk had in spades, and traits the team will now be searching for elsewhere.
Still, it’s hard to look at this situation and not see it as a missed opportunity. Aiyuk was tailor-made for this scheme.
His ability to create separation, his toughness after the catch, his understanding of spacing-he checked every box for what Shanahan wants in a receiver. And while injuries, including a knee ligament issue in 2024, may have slowed him down recently, the upside is still there.
If he regains his pre-injury form with another team, San Francisco could be watching a former star thrive elsewhere-an outcome that stings a little more when you consider how avoidable this fracture may have been.
The 49ers are built to contend, and they’ve proven they can adapt. But letting go of a player like Aiyuk, who had become such a pivotal part of their offensive identity, is a move that carries risk. The front office will need to hit on future draft picks, and Pearsall will need to keep progressing, because replacing Aiyuk’s production-and his potential-won’t be easy.
The chapter is closing, and it’s not the ending either side envisioned.