Tag: Aiyuk

Niners GM: ‘Safe to say’ Brandon Aiyuk won’t be back

Posted on | by Field Level Media

San Francisco general manager John Lynch does not expect embattled wideout Brandon Aiyuk to return to the 49ers, declaring Wednesday that “it’s safe to say that he’s played his last snap with the Niners.”

Aiyuk, 27, missed the entire 2025 season after tearing his ACL and MCL in October of 2024.

He was initially expected to return this October but by November, The Athletic reported he had missed multiple team meetings and displayed a “lack of communication” that led the 49ers to void the guaranteed money in Aiyuk’s 2026 contract, calling his absences a failure to fulfill his contractual obligations.

Aiyuk signed a four-year, $120 million deal before the 2024 season. By voiding future guarantees, San Francisco can recover a 2026 option bonus of $24.935 million, $1.215 million in base salary for 2026, a $100,000 workout bonus and roster bonuses of $750,000 per game, according to The Athletic.

“The plan in terms of the transaction that will come in due time,” Lynch said at his season-ending press conference on Wednesday, four days after the 49ers were dismantled 41-6 by the Seattle Seahawks in the divisional round of the playoffs.

San Francisco would incur a dead-cap hit of $29.6 million if Aiyuk were either traded or released, with that money spread over two seasons if he were designated as a post-June 1 release.

“It’s unfortunate. You know, a situation that just went awry,” Lynch said. “I will look long and hard at what could have been done differently but sometimes it just doesn’t work out, and I think that this was a case where that happened.”

Aiyuk posted 25 receptions for 374 yards and no touchdowns over seven games in 2024 after developing into a star over the previous two campaigns.

He caught a career-high 78 passes for 1,015 yards and a career-best eight TDs in 2022, and hauled in 75 catches for a career-high 1,342 yards in 2023.

Drafted in the first round (25th overall) in 2020, Aiyuk has 294 receptions for 4,305 yards and 25 TDs in 69 games (67 starts) with the 49ers.

–Field Level Media

Dec 17, 2023; Glendale, Arizona, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) with wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (11) against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

John Lynch: 49ers’ Brock Purdy, Brandon Aiyuk getting closer

Posted on | by Field Level Media

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy’s season to date has largely been derailed by a toe injury.

He sustained the injury in Week 1, returned in Week 4 but has missed the last three games after dealing with a setback in his recovery.

Real details about a possible timeline for return to action for Purdy, who returned to practice in a limited capacity Oct. 15 and remained limited at Wednesday’s practice, have been scarce.

In a radio interview Thursday with local station KNBR, 49ers GM John Lynch made it clear that Purdy is getting closer to a return.

“What I can tell everyone is that we’re being (incredibly diligent),” Lynch said. “We’ve gotten so many opinions on this thing, and it’s been pretty consistent. He’s doing a really good job. We’re taking the appropriate measures, and what I can tell you is he gets better each week, each day. I do think we’re getting closer to him returning.”

Still, no firm timetable has been established for Purdy’s return.

“A hard timeline (is difficult to set) because it’s kind of a feel thing,” Lynch added. “And how he feels, that’s still out there and TBD, but we’re getting closer, we do know that. I think this week, in particular, last week, I think we made some progress. And so, that has Brock encouraged. It has everyone encouraged.

“We’re trusting Brock, we’re trusting the doctors. We’ll make a good decision on it, and that’s why it’s taken some time.”

Lynch also provided an update on receiver Brandon Aiyuk, who hasn’t played this season after tearing his ACL and MCL last October. Like with Purdy, Lynch is optimistic about his potential to return as he is just past the one-year mark from when he sustained the injuries.

“Oh, yeah, there’s hope he plays,” Lynch said of Aiyuk. “There’s, more importantly than hope, there’s some evidence. He’s making really good progress. He’s been putting in the time, and I think that it’s coming nearer as to when he’s going to be out there.”

San Francisco has kept winning in spite of being without Purdy, Aiyuk and a host of other important players on both sides of the ball.

The 49ers (5-2) are in a three-way tie atop the NFC West with the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams heading into Sunday’s road game with the Houston Texans (2-4).

–Field Level Media

Oct 20, 2024; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (11) walks on the field before the start of the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images

49ers say WR Brandon Aiyuk (knee) ‘not close’ to return

Posted on | by Field Level Media

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk is “not close” to returning from the physically unable to perform list, general manager John Lynch said Thursday.

The club originally had targeted a Week 6 return for the 27-year-old veteran, who still is rehabbing a torn right ACL sustained last October.

Lynch said there have been no setbacks, explaining it is taking longer than expected because his tear wasn’t “clean” and there was other damage in the knee.

Aiyuk posted 25 receptions for 374 yards and no touchdowns over seven games last season after developing into a star over the previous two campaigns.

He caught a career-high 78 passes for 1,015 yards and a career-best eight TDs in 2022, and hauled in 75 catches for a career-high 1,342 yards in 2023.

Drafted in the first round (25th overall) in 2020, Aiyuk has recorded 294 receptions for 4,305 yards and 25 TDs in 69 games (67 starts) with the 49ers.

–Field Level Media

Oct 20, 2024; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (11) walks on the field before the start of the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images

49ers GM not expecting Brandon Aiyuk to be ready for Week 1

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The San Francisco 49ers do not expect to have receiver Brandon Aiyuk on the field for the season-opening game against the Seattle Seahawks on Sept. 7.

Aiyuk is battling back from a serious right knee injury that included tears to the ACL and MCL. He was injured in Week 7 of last season.

San Francisco general manager John Lynch told KNBR on Thursday that Aiyuk is making progress but the team isn’t ready to put a date on his return.

“There’s just steps that you have to continue to hit and I’ll continue to say that Brandon is doing very well in his rehab,” Lynch said. “Do we have an exact date right now? No. I don’t think it’ll be Week 1, but hopefully I’m surprised. We’ll see — continue to watch him work his way through his rehab. But we want him fully healthy.

“He had a significant injury, so you have to do a significant rehab. He’s doing a really good job with that, and we got to continue to do so.”

Aiyuk was placed on the active/physically unable to perform list prior to training camp. If he is still on the PUP list at the outset of the season, he will be required to miss at least the first four games.

Aiyuk, 27, had 25 receptions for 374 yards and no touchdowns over seven games last season after developing into a star over the previous two campaigns. Aiyuk caught a career-high 78 passes for 1,015 yards and a career-best eight touchdowns in 2022, followed by 75 receptions for a career-high 1,342 yards in 2023.

Also, rookie running back Jordan James will miss time after injuring a finger earlier this week.

“Jordan James broke his finger, so he’s getting surgery on that,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said. “He’ll be out a couple of weeks.”

James was a fifth-round pick in April’s draft. He rushed for 2,215 yards and 31 touchdowns in three seasons at Oregon.

The 49ers also released veteran cornerback Eli Apple on Thursday, a little more than a week after signing him.

–Field Level Media

Oct 20, 2024; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (11) lays on the ground after suffering an injury against the Kansas City Chiefs in the second quarter at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images

49ers put WRs Brandon Aiyuk, Ricky Pearsall on PUP list

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The San Francisco 49ers placed wide receivers Brandon Aiyuk and Ricky Pearsall on the active/physically unable to perform list on Friday.

Aiyuk is still recovering from an ACL tear in his right knee that occurred against the Kansas City Chiefs on Oct. 20, 2024. He may not be ready when the regular season begins on Sept. 7 against the Seattle Seahawks.

Pearsall (hamstring) missed most of the team’s spring workouts due to his injury.

Aiyuk, 27, had 25 receptions for 374 yards and no touchdowns over seven games last season after developing into a star over the previous two campaigns. Aiyuk caught a career-high 78 passes for 1,015 yards and a career-best eight touchdowns in 2022 and 75 balls for a career-high 1,342 yards in 2023.

Pearsall, 24, caught 31 passes for 400 yards and three touchdowns last season as a rookie. He was shot in the chest during a robbery attempt in San Francisco on Sept. 4 and recovered to make his NFL debut in Week 7 against the Chiefs.

San Francisco also placed four other players on the PUP list – offensive lineman Andre Dillard (ankle), defensive lineman Yetur Gross-Matos (knee), safety Malik Mustapha (knee) and linebacker Curtis Robinson (knee).

The 49ers placed two players on the active/non-football injury list: Offensive lineman Ben Bartch and safety George Odum.

–Field Level Media

Oct 20, 2024; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (11) lays on the ground after suffering an injury against the Kansas City Chiefs in the second quarter at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images

49ers lose WRs Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel during loss to Chiefs

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The San Francisco 49ers lost standout receivers Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel during Sunday’s 28-18 loss to the visiting Kansas City Chiefs.

Aiyuk was carted off with a right knee injury in the final minute of the first half. Samuel played briefly early in the game before exiting with an illness.

The 49ers also were without receiver Jauan Jennings, who didn’t practice all week and missed the game with a hip injury.

Aiyuk had two receptions for 23 yards before departing. He was injured when he caught a 15-yard pass and was hit by two Kansas City defenders, with the blow from Chamarri Conner causing Aiyuk’s right leg to bend backward.

Samuel was seen receiving oxygen on the bench in the first quarter. He didn’t touch the ball before departing. It marked his second missed game of the season.

Jennings leads San Francisco with 404 receiving yards. He also has 25 receptions and three touchdowns.

Aiyuk had 25 catches for 374 yards through Sunday’s game and hasn’t caught a touchdown pass. He staged an offseason holdout before accepting a four-year, $120 million contract extension in late August.

Samuel has 20 catches for 335 yards and one touchdown and also has 51 rushing yards and another score on the ground.

Rookie Ricky Pearsall was active for the first time after being placed on the 53-man roster on Saturday and made his first career catch. Pearsall, who was shot in the chest during a robbery attempt in San Francisco on Aug. 31, finished with three receptions for 21 yards.

–Field Level Media

Feb 11, 2024; Paradise, Nevada, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel (19) runs with the ball against the Kansas City Chiefs LVIII between Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Bills, Patriots bidding on 49ers WR Deebo Samuel

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Trade offers for wide receiver Deebo Samuel could fetch the San Francisco 49ers a first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, according to multiple reports.

The two teams at the center of the bidding prior to the start of the second round of the 2024 draft on Friday were AFC East rivals Buffalo and New England, NFL Network and The Athletic reported.

NFL Network reported the Patriots and 49ers engaged in conversations around Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk during the NFL Scouting Combine, but compensation was a sticking point.

The Bills traded No. 1 wide receiver Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans earlier this month and traded back twice on Thursday. Buffalo holds the No. 33 pick in the draft Friday.

49ers general manager John Lynch said on Wednesday that he “wouldn’t anticipate” a scenario in which the team would trade Aiyuk, who is looking for a long-term deal from San Francisco.

Whether Samuel could be available after Lynch used the 49ers’ first-round selection on Florida wide receiver Ricky Pearsall — a former Aiyuk teammate in 2019 before transferring to the Gators from Arizona State.

Lynch called Samuel “a part of this team, and a big part of this team” on Thursday night after the pick. Head coach Kyle Shanahan went further, saying trade talks took place when teams called but trading a wide receiver “doesn’t seem that likely to be honest. But I’m still on the table. If someone offered [owner] Jed [York] and John good stuff for me, I’m going to be out of here.”

–Field Level Media

Feb 11, 2024; Paradise, Nevada, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (11) runs with the ball as Kansas City Chiefs safety Justin Reid (20) defends during the first quarter of Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

49ers GM John Lynch expects WR Brandon Aiyuk to stay long-term

Posted on | by Field Level Media

With the price of doing business with No. 1 wide receivers on the rise in the NFL, 49ers general manager John Lynch reiterated his position on paying Brandon Aiyuk in the near future.

“Our wish is he’s here and part of the Niners for the rest of his career,” Lynch said in a pre-draft press conference on Monday. “We’re focused on B.A. being part of us.”

Aiyuk isn’t attending voluntary workouts and Lynch said there have been calls from general managers about the availability of Aiyuk and others. For now, the 49ers “wouldn’t anticipate” a move this week involving Aiyuk being traded to a new team.

When the sides will engage again on contract negotiations is unclear.

The 25-year-old Aiyuk was named second-team All-Pro in 2023 and is due $14.1 million in 2024, the fifth-year option on his rookie deal with free agency coming up next March.

The 49ers traded up to draft Aiyuk 25th overall in 2020 and he has 15 total touchdowns the past two seasons. He had 75 receptions for 1,342 yards with seven touchdowns in 2023.

San Francisco has committed top dollar to key playmakers from wide receiver Deebo Samuel to running back Christian McCaffrey and tight end George Kittle, with a massive deal coming quarterback Brock Purdy’s way soon, too.

By this time next year, Purdy could be cashing more than $50 million per season based on the current QB contract market.

That creates questions about whether one of those playmakers — or Aiyuk — might have to relocate for the 49ers to maintain financial harmony.

Samuel is scheduled to make $20.97 million in 2024 and Kittle’s base salary is scheduled to increase from $1.080 million last season to over $13 million.

–Field Level Media