49ers receiver Brandon Aiyuk unreachable as NFLPA calls go unanswered
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
NFL wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk remains on the 49ers' reserve/left squad list and has not applied for reinstatement.
The players' union can't reach him, and he won't play Monday.
Background
Brandon Aiyuk is a 28-year-old NFL wide receiver, a 2020 first-round pick out of Arizona State who signed a four-year, $120 million contract with the San Francisco 49ers in August 2024. Two months later he tore his ACL and MCL and has not appeared in a game since. The 49ers later placed him on the reserve/left squad list after he failed to update the organization on his rehab, and the team voided roughly $27 million in 2026 guaranteed money after asserting he missed rehab sessions. He has publicly pushed to join the Washington Commanders, where his former college teammate, quarterback Jayden Daniels, plays.
How it unfolded
- August 2024Aiyuk signs a four-year, $120 million contract with the 49ers.
- October 2024Aiyuk tears his ACL and MCL and has not appeared in a game since.
- July 2025Aiyuk tells The Athletic he is the missing piece for Washington's roster and buys a $10 million home near the Commanders' practice facility; GM John Lynch says, "We wish him well."
- Late 2025 seasonThe 49ers place Aiyuk on the reserve/left squad list after he fails to update the organization on his rehab and progress.
- Oct 16, 2026The Athletic reports the NFLPA has made multiple attempts to reach Aiyuk that have gone unanswered; he remains on the reserve/left squad list and has not applied for reinstatement.
- Oct 19, 2026The 5-0 49ers host the 1-3-1 Commanders on Monday Night Football; Aiyuk will not suit up for either team.
Who’s saying what
- Teammate
- An anonymous former 49ers teammate said Aiyuk's antics show he is desperate to get back in.
- Teammate
- Another anonymous former teammate called him a distraction who became increasingly hostile in team meetings, saying "the humility was kind of gone."
- Caution
- Former NFL safety Ryan Clark said Aiyuk is "essentially ruining the rest of his life, one minute video at a time."
- Support
- Saints receiver Dante Pettis, Aiyuk's 2020 teammate, said he keeps track of him and tries to check in, but doesn't know what's going on.
Still unverified
The NFLPA's unanswered attempts to reach Aiyuk were reported by a league source granted anonymity to discuss potentially sensitive topics. The Commanders were believed to be interested in signing Aiyuk when he was released, but his behavior over the summer created doubts.