The 49ers offense thrives without their star receiver. Is Aiyuk's absence now a silent blessing, paving the way for a new era?
What started off as a long anticipated comeback has quietly shifted into something far more complicated for the San Francisco 49ers and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. More than a year after suffering a catastrophic right-knee injury, Aiyuk still hasn’t returned to practice. He suffered a knee injury in Week 7 of the 2024 season, tearing his ACL, MCL, and meniscus. With only six games left in the 2025 regular season, the odds of him suiting up again for San Francisco may be fading by the day.
Behind the scenes, the relationship between Aiyuk and the organization has become increasingly strained. During training camp, the 49ers voided his guaranteed money for 2026 after he failed to meet contract requirements, erasing the $24.935 million option bonus that was previously locked in as of April 1. A base salary of $1.215 million and various bonuses is all that remains.
While Kyle Shanahan continues to publicly describe Aiyuk as “week-to-week,” sources say he still has not been medically cleared, and the team’s patience has thinned. All signs point to some type of separation once the season ends.
But there’s a deeper question emerging around Levi’s Stadium:
If the 49ers offense keeps flourishing without him…do they even need him anymore?
Aiyuk’s story with the 49ers has been turbulent for more than a year.
Before the 2024 season, a tense contract standoff nearly sent him to the Browns, Patriots, or Steelers. Just as negotiations thawed and he agreed to a four-year, $120 million extension, visible cracks formed again, including a public practice field disagreement over non-team issued red shorts.
Privately, the 49ers had hoped to trade him last offseason but the injury and the size of his contract made his market evaporate. As he worked through rehab, he stayed around the team early on, but lately? He hasn’t been seen at the media-open portion of practice in weeks, and he’s been absent from the locker room during media availability. Though he remains on the PUP list there’s no indication that a comeback is even close.
Here’s where the situation gets even more complicated…the 49ers offense is rolling.
With Brock Purdy returning and Christian McCaffrey playing at an MVP-caliber level, the offense has found remarkable efficiency. George Kittle’s resurgence as a primary read has given the passing game a reliable middle-field presence, and rookie Ricky Pearsall has emerged as one of the most surprisingly polished young receivers in the league.
Some inside the league believe the 49ers might actually be better off moving on from Aiyuk, redirecting his cap hit toward the trenches or secondary while continuing to lean on McCaffrey’s dominance, Kittle’s TE1 form, Purdy’s timing and accuracy, and Pearsall’s breakout.
Pearsall in particular has softened the blow of Aiyuk’s absence. His route precision and quick separation have fit seamlessly into Shanahan’s scheme. With a full offseason as WR2, he could provide 90% of Aiyuk’s production at a fraction of the cost and without the contract tension and drama. Moving on from a star receiver usually feels like subtraction but in this scenario it might turn into addition by subtraction. Shanahan continues to say the team hopes Aiyuk will “eventually” practice this season, but optimism is low. And while the organization’s stance is firm that they won’t rush him, they also won’t sit in limbo forever. With the offense clicking, young receivers stepping up, and the team preparing for a playoff push, the 49ers may be closer than ever to turning the page. Aiyuk’s story in the NFL likely isn’t over, his chapter with the 49ers may be closing.
The bottom line is that Aiyuk’s talent has never been in question. His explosiveness, hands, and ability made him one of the league’s breakout stars before the injury. But availability matters and being unavailable will end up costing him. Right now, the 49ers have a rhythm without him, that rhythm is working and starting to feel permanent.
The question used to be when will Aiyuk return?
Now, the question might be:Will he ever return and will the 49ers even want him when he does?