Brandon Aiyuk’s situation now sits at the intersection of medical clearance and contract fallout. The 27-year-old wideout has not played in 2025 while rehabbing a major knee injury from last season, and the San Francisco 49ers have declined to open his practice window.
Meanwhile, reports of voided future guarantees and a strained relationship have fueled speculation about an offseason split, even as league chatter suggests the door remains open for a late-season return if player and club can align.
Latest News on Brandon Aiyuk Injury Timeline
Aiyuk tore the ACL, MCL, and meniscus in his right knee seven games into the 2024 season and has not been medically cleared to return in 2025. Kyle Shanahan said this week the 49ers will not open Aiyuk’s 21‑day practice window, confirming he remains on PUP and off the practice field. A fantasy update echoed the team stance, noting the window will not open this week and that a full-season sit remains possible if no activation occurs.
NFL insider Ian Rapoport framed the next step bluntly: “That remains to be seen, and really it depends on if Brandon Aiyuk wants to. First, the health part of it. He’s recovering from an ACL injury. More like ACL+, because he’s got other ligament damage in his knee.”
He added, “He’s close to being physically able to return to practice… Does not sound like the relationship has been good; the communication between Aiyuk and the 49ers has certainly not been good.” The same report says, “But if Aiyuk chooses to come back and play football, the 49ers would welcome him back.”
That leaves the late-season timeline contingent on two gates: medical sign-off to begin practice activities and a working alignment between the player and the team to proceed. Without the practice window opened, any 2025 activation would require a near-immediate ramp and positive medical response, both of which have been absent to date.
Why 49ers Voided 2026 Guaranteed Money in Brandon Aiyuk’s Contract
Multiple reports say San Francisco voided approximately $27 million in Aiyuk’s 2026 salary guarantees in late July, despite his four‑year, $120 million extension signed in August 2024. Shanahan confirmed the voiding but did not specify the conduct that triggered it, noting, “It takes a lot of things to get a contract voided,” Shanahan said. “I’ve never dealt with that in my career and been in any building that’s had that.”
Coverage of the move detailed typical contract default provisions and reported that Aiyuk missed meetings and declined team activities, which the 49ers considered obligations, allowing the guarantees to be voided, the club asserted.
NFLPA grievance rules give players 50 days to contest such voidings; reports indicate Aiyuk did not file, meaning the void remains in effect. As a result, his compensation from 2026 to 2028 (roughly $85.1 million total) is now unsecured, and an offseason release has been discussed in reports if he does not return or rework his terms.
Local analysis has characterized the situation as far from over, with the voiding tied to missed rehab commitments and team activities, and rival clubs expected to show interest if he reaches free agency without a reworked, trade‑friendly deal.