Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk’s rise had a unique twist until last season: every year, he took another step forward.
That steady climb made him the San Francisco 49ers’ most valuable receiver, edging past Deebo Samuel, who had been the team’s main star. Then came a brutal turn, and everything changed.
What Is Brandon Aiyuk’s Status Ahead of the 2025 Season?
The 49ers’ roster took heavy hits this offseason.
With quarterback Brock Purdy due for a major payday, the front office had to reshuffle money and make tough choices, and that meant not everyone could stay.
One of the biggest contract sagas involved Aiyuk in the 2024 offseason, adding another layer to an already tense stretch. That deal came right after his best year.
In 2023, Aiyuk finished with 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns, and he played a key role in the playoff run against the Green Bay Packers and the Detroit Lions.
AIYUK UNBELIEVABLE!
📺: #DETvsSF on FOX
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/gm8L5xwa9D— NFL (@NFL) January 29, 2024
Eventually, he signed a four-year, $120 million extension. After that, he opened the season slowly, not matching his previous impact, which the team connected to a lack of training rhythm.
Then, on Oct. 20, Aiyuk tore his ACL and MCL at home against the Kansas City Chiefs, and his season ended on the spot.
That injury was one of several the 49ers dealt with last year, and it hit right after the team committed $30 million per year to its receiver. The relationship, already strained during the offseason, stayed awkward even after the ink dried on the deal.
Coach Kyle Shanahan recently said they expect Aiyuk to return in Week 6 against the Buccaneers. That timeline lines up with almost one year since the injury and is framed as a critical point for the team’s push to compete for a title.
In his five years in the NFL, Aiyuk established himself among the best at his position and entered last season ranked inside the top 10 wide receivers in the league.
Week 6 return….Brandon Aiyuk is chopping his feet and running routes off to the side of receivers on the #49ers practice field. #FTTB pic.twitter.com/rhcMLlq8oD
— Matt Lively (@mattblively) August 12, 2025
However, after his injury, questions remain about how he will look when he returns and how his game will translate right away. Through seven weeks last year, Aiyuk had only 374 yards and no touchdowns, still working to regain his rhythm.
Now, after a year away and without preseason reps with the team, the focus shifts to whether he can again be the difference-making wideout the 49ers need.
