He’s back.
On Monday, Brandon Aiyuk took to Instagram with a video celebrating “Victory Monday,” but the current San Francisco 49ers wide receiver was not marking a 49ers win. Aiyuk, who is currently on the 49ers’ reserve/left squad list, was actually saluting the Washington Commanders’ first victory of the season - a wild 33-31 upset over the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks.
The pajamas made the message pretty clear: those looked like Commanders’ PJs.
Aiyuk’s situation with San Francisco has been rocky for a while. He has publicly feuded with the 49ers over the last two years, and general manager John Lynch has said he'd never play for them again. Aiyuk has also said he has no intention of doing any business with San Francisco, even if that’s what it would take to get his release.
His fascination with Washington has been a running theme all year. Aiyuk has posted multiple videos wearing Commanders’ gear or saying he wants to - and plans to - play for Washington.
At one point, he looked like a possible option if he had reported to San Francisco and gotten his release. He even said he bought a house in Virginia near Washington’s team facility.
But the Commanders have long since moved on. They signed four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Stefon Diggs instead, and Diggs has made an immediate impact, leading Washington with three touchdowns in three games.
Aiyuk is close friends with Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels, though some have wondered whether that relationship changed over the summer. Daniels has declined to talk about it.
For now, Aiyuk remains a Commanders fan - just without any official connection to the team.
In Other News...
Commanders London Game Sparks A Fan Backlash The NFL Didnt Need
The NFLs London trip for the Commanders and Colts was supposed to be another showcase for the leagues international push, but the conversation around the game has shifted to pricing and patience. Tickets were cut after sales slowed, a move that immediately rubbed some fans the wrong way, especially those who bought in early and now feel they paid a premium for the same seat.
Andy Burrows, the NFLs 2025 international fan of the year, publicly took the league to task for putting television presentation ahead of the live experience, a message that is landing because this is not a one-off stop. The NFL already has multiple London games on the calendar through 2029, but the softer demand around this matchup has raised a familiar question about whether the leagues global strategy is keeping pace with what fans overseas actually want. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Face Another Lineup Test Before London Kickoff
The Commanders are heading into their London trip with a little more roster churn than they probably wanted, as the club ruled out right guard Sam Cosmi and safety Nick Cross for Sundays game and said neither player will make the trip. On top of that, Washington added outside linebacker Charles Snowden to the practice squad, a small but notable move as the team keeps sorting through depth before kickoff overseas.
The transaction log also brought more movement at linebacker and in the backfield picture, with Marvin Jones Jr. landing on the practice squad injured list and Leo Chenal going on Reserve/Injured. Washington also made the signing of Austin Ekeler official, another reminder that the Commanders are still piecing together their lineup as they prepare for one of the more unusual weeks on the schedule. [Read more 🡒]
Sonny Styles Is Becoming A Bigger Deal For Washington Than Expected
Sonny Styles is only three games into his NFL career, but Washington already has a pretty good feel for what it added. In the Commanders 33-31 win over the Seattle Seahawks, the linebacker was all over the field, stacking up tackles, breaking up passes and creating havoc in ways that can change a game in a hurry.
The performance only added to the buzz around Styles, especially with general manager Adam Peters and coach Dan Quinn both talking up his athleticism and the way he has affected the defense. Styles sounded happy with the win, but he also made it clear he is still focused on getting better, which is the kind of message a team likes to hear when a young player starts looking like more than expected. [Read more 🡒]