It’s official: Brandon Aiyuk wants back in the NFL.
More than two years after his last game for the San Francisco 49ers, wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk hired a new agent, Drew Rosenhaus, and has applied for reinstatement to the NFL. He plans to report to the 49ers on Friday. San Francisco placed Aiyuk on the reserve/did not report list last December when he stopped showing up to the team facility while rehabbing from a 2024 knee injury.
The 49ers had already voided Aiyuk’s $27 million in guaranteed money for 2025 in July of that year after he missed mandatory rehab and check-ins. Since then, Aiyuk has publicly feuded with the 49ers, and general manager John Lynch has said on more than one occasion that Aiyuk had likely played his last down for the 49ers.
“Brandon is healthy and ready to get back on the field,” Rosenhaus told ESPN.
Aiyuk has taken public shots at San Francisco all year, vowing to never set foot back in the team’s facilities. He also made it clear that he wanted to play for the Washington Commanders. Aiyuk shared multiple pictures and videos of himself in Commanders gear on social media and even said he bought a home in Northern Virginia, near the Commanders’ headquarters. Aiyuk is close friends with Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels, dating back to their one shared season together at Arizona State.
Daniels has remained quiet about Aiyuk’s status throughout his feud with the 49ers.
San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan commented on Aiyuk this week.
“I have no expectation,” Kyle Shanahan said Wednesday when asked. “Kind of moved on with that mentally and everything, and kind of how I talked to you guys two months ago, nothing’s really changed for me.”
The 49ers are dealing with multiple receiver injuries currently, but don’t look to them to turn to Aiyuk for help.
It will be interesting to see if the Commanders could be an option for Aiyuk if/when he finally becomes a free agent.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Commanders superfan/49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk ready to return to NFL
