It’s been approximately 11 months since San Francisco 49ers star Brandon Aiyuk played a snap of NFL football. The wide receiver tore both his ACL and his MCL in the team’s Week 7 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2024 season and hasn’t been seen on the field since.
Brock Purdy, Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, and now Nick Bosa have also given 49ers HC Kyle Shanahan injury headaches in recent days and months. The team’s general manager, John Lynch, recently shared updates on his team’s injured stars, and there was worrying news regarding Aiyuk.
John Lynch Gives Update on 49ers Injuries, Including George Kittle, Brock Purdy, and Brandon Aiyuk
The 49ers have been hit hard by injuries early in the season, but no absence will be felt more than Bosa’s, who left early in Week 3 after tearing his ACL. That injury will put the star pass rusher out for the season, and Lynch spoke of his disappointment at the loss in an interview with KNBR Radio.
Lynch was also asked for updates on San Francisco’s injured offensive stars, including Purdy, Kittle, and Aiyuk. The GM revealed that Purdy was back in practice and had made strong strides in his recovery. Purdy has been out since Week 1 with a turf-toe injury but could be in contention to return in Week 4.
Back home this weekend 🙌
🎟️ https://t.co/PsMvfXHNYz pic.twitter.com/2WRhbKxqUH
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) September 25, 2025
On Kittle, Lynch stated that the veteran tight end had been with the team throughout his injury, also from Week 1, and that his leadership had been a huge asset. Kittle is on injured reserve with a hamstring injury and won’t be eligible to return until Week 6, but Lynch suggested that the player’s recovery is on schedule.
There was less positive news on Aiyuk, though, who, like Bosa, is dealing with a torn ACL. Lynch suggested that the receiver’s injury is far more complex and that while there have been no setbacks, the player won’t be returning to the field anytime soon.
Aiyuk ‘Not Close’ to Return, Says Lynch
When host Brian Murphy asked if there had been any setbacks with Aiyuk’s recovery, Lynch answered that there hadn’t been. However, the executive remained cautious when discussing the player’s timeline, suggesting that there is still much work to be done.
“No setbacks,” he began. “There’s different levels when you do these ACLs, and Brandon had a fairly significant injury involving a lot of different things in his knee. He’s a really gifted athlete; he’s a very hard worker, so when you combine that, you tend to come back at a good clip.
John Lynch gives updates on Purdy, Kittle and Aiyuk:
On Purdy: “I can tell you he practiced yesterday, and he’s at a better place than he was on Sunday. He looked really good. We’ll see how he responds today but his progression has really been a good one.”
On Kittle: “George is… pic.twitter.com/zcOp2aFt0Z
— KNBR (@KNBR) September 25, 2025
“Still, there’s no absolutes on these things, so he’s gotta continue to hit markers. But he is tracking well; he’s working hard, and we’ll just continue to do that. We’ll be a better team when Brandon’s out there, and we look forward to that day, but it’s not close.”
Heading into the 2024 season, Aiyuk had put together back-to-back seasons in 2022 and 2023 with over 1,000 receiving yards and was a key part of the 49ers offense. His extended layoff has given the likes of Jauan Jennings and Ricky Pearsall a chance to shine, and both have done so, but fans would still love to see No. 11 back in red and gold.
