San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch and coach Kyle Shanahan expressed hope but not expectation that receiver Brandon Aiyuk will return this season during Tuesday appearances on KNBR Radio. The 49ers voided Aiyuk\'s guaranteed money for 2026 in July, a move that became public 11 days ago.
Aiyuk is recovering from a knee injury suffered last season. With four games remaining following their Week 14 bye, San Francisco has not opened his practice window.
Lynch acknowledged the team\'s uncertainty about Aiyuk\'s potential return when asked if he realistically expected the receiver to play this season.
\"Realistic? I\'m not sure,\" Lynch said, via 49ers Web Zone. \"Hopeful? Yeah. So, I think that\'s kind of where I\'d leave that. He continues to rehab, and hopefully, that\'s, like I\'ve always said, we\'re a better football team when Brandon\'s out there, and I hope that\'s the case.\"
Shanahan echoed similar sentiments about Aiyuk\'s status for the remainder of the season.
\"Oh, I\'m definitely still hopeful. I\'m not counting on it, but I\'m definitely still hoping that can happen,\" Shanahan said.
The 49ers voided Aiyuk\'s 2026 guaranteed money in July, a preemptive move toward a potential parting of ways in the offseason. Aiyuk signed a four-year, $120 million extension in 2024.
Lynch was asked if the report about voided guarantees added strain to the relationship with Aiyuk.
\"I don\'t necessarily know that the reporting was an inflection point, but I think, the entire time, it hadn\'t been great,\" Lynch admitted. \"And so, you do your best to rectify those things, and then, everyone\'s got to be professionals and conduct themselves in that manner.\"
Given how both Lynch and Shanahan are approaching the situation, it appears unlikely Aiyuk will play another down in a 49ers jersey.