Brandon Aiyuk has made the move that forces the San Francisco 49ers to act. He filed paperwork to be reinstated from the reserve/left squad list and plans to report to the team facility in Santa Clara on Friday afternoon, his agent told ESPN.
Drew Rosenhaus, hired Monday, told ESPN’s Adam Schefter:
Thanks for the submission!
“Brandon is healthy and ready to get back on the field.”
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The filing ends ten months in which the 49ers held his rights without paying him or using a roster spot.
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The timing carries a second layer. Aiyuk spent the summer saying he would not do business with the 49ers and declined to file paperwork that would have forced their hand. Friday’s arrival puts him back in Santa Clara County, where a misdemeanor warrant bearing his name has been open since the spring.
Jeff Mueller, a doctor of physical therapy and injury analyst who posts on X, seized on that timing in a post about the case, framing the reporting date as the moment Aiyuk’s whereabouts stop being a question.
“Brandon Aiyuk still has an active arrest warrant in Santa Clara county that he’s dodged since June. Now they know where to find him on Friday.”
The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office issued the warrant on a misdemeanor exhibition of speed charge, tied to a December video of Aiyuk driving past Levi’s Stadium at 104 mph in a 40 mph zone, per the New York Post.
Aiyuk asked on Instagram in June whether the warrant was real, adding, “If I have a warrant, I’m about to stay out here (in Virginia).” A misdemeanor traffic charge is unlikely to end a career, though the league can review it under the personal conduct policy.
Kyle Shanahan answered “No” in September when asked about a reunion, and John Lynch said in January it was “safe to say” Aiyuk had played his last snap for the team, which can release him, trade him before Tuesday’s deadline, or keep him.
A market barely exists for a 28-year-old who has not played since Oct. 20, 2024, when he tore the ACL, MCL, and meniscus in his right knee.
Brandon Aiyuk expressed his desire to play for the Washington Commanders all offseason, before his dreams were crushed when Stefon Diggs‘ signing was announced. The roster remains in need, as Terry McLaurin suffered a season-ending knee injury during the Week 6 game against the 49ers. But that does not guarantee a chance for Aiyuk.
Top teams Brandon Aiyuk could sign with
A release is the likeliest path for Brandon Aiyuk.
The Kansas City Chiefs are the one to keep an eye on as they struggle consistently, needing late-season receiver help. The Los Angeles Rams have been floated as another fit, with Davante Adams on IR after undergoing a hamstring surgery; he’s expected to return in early December, potentially against the Chiefs.
Buffalo Bills and Seattle Seahawks are two other teams that were mentioned; Aiyuk could certainly fit on either roster.
Washington is the destination Aiyuk has campaigned for, having pushed to play with Arizona State teammate Jayden Daniels, but ESPN’s Dan Graziano reported the Commanders are not expected to be in the market for him. A new deal with no guarantees left would likely be short and incentive-driven.
The 49ers are 6-1 and atop the NFC before Sunday’s home game against the Raiders. Whether Brandon Aiyuk is still on their books when he reaches the building Friday is yet to be seen.
Edited by Aman Kashyap
