Jerry Rice will go down in history as a San Francisco 49ers legend, so it’s no surprise to see him sharing advice with Brandon Aiyuk. The sixth-year wideout played in just seven games in 2024, and he’s expected to miss the first few this year. On the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list, Aiyuk is doing everything he can to return to the field as Rice issues a stern warning to the Arizona State graduate.
What Does Jerry Rice’s Advice Mean for Brandon Aiyuk’s Return?
Rice knows what it’s like to come back from a serious injury. The three-time Super Bowl champion went down with both ACL and MCL tears in the first game of 1997, but he returned to the field in December of the same season. That run didn’t last long as he injured his kneecap in the same game! With how technology has advanced and knowing how many doctors are always on standby, a quick return like Rice’s seems out of the question for any NFL player.
49ers legend Jerry Rice concerned with Aiyuk comeback, defense’s youth movement https://t.co/FoU6rDSNmu
— Mercury News (@mercnews) July 11, 2025
Rice’s advice to Aiyuk was simple: “Don’t rush it.” Rice continued, “He’s going to want to prove to everyone, ‘Hey look, I’m back.’ It’s going to take some time for him. I’d rely on those other guys to do most of the work and just blend him back in.”
When Will Brandon Aiyuk Return to the 49ers?
Aiyuk’s recovery timeline remains up in the air. The most likely scenario is that the veteran wide receiver will miss at least the first four games. San Francisco opens their season with two games on the road against their NFC rivals, Seattle Seahawks and New Orleans Saints, followed by the Arizona Cardinals and Jacksonville Jaguars coming to town.
If the 27-year-old is ready by then, he could join the team for their Thursday Night Football showdown in Los Angeles against the Rams. With everyone else on short rest, the 49ers’ lone Thursday game on October 2 could be the perfect time to get Aiyuk back into the fold. They could ease him into action, and he’d have an extra few days’ rest heading into the team’s next game on Sunday, October 12.
While he was off to a slow start in 2024, Aiyuk exploded with 12 passes for 147 yards in the team’s 24-23 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. He didn’t finish any of his six other games with more than 48 receiving yards, a total he hit in back-to-back weeks. Aiyuk never finished a game with fewer than two receptions, but he was held to under 40 yards in three games.
With the Deebo Samuel trade, there’s no doubt the team will look to Aiyuk to step up. He had back-to-back 1,000-plus yard seasons in 2022-23 and 2023-24, and he looks to put 2024 behind him and focus only on the future.
