The verdict is in for Brandon Aiyuk

Official Return to the NFL, but Not to San Francisco

Brandon Aiyuk has taken an important step in his return to the field. The NFL reinstated the San Francisco 49ers wide receiver on Monday after he reported for a physical, as reported by ESPN.

According to the league's transaction log, the 49ers also secured a two-game exemption, allowing them to keep Aiyuk off their 53-man roster while his case is being resolved. This exemption will expire on Monday, November 23, following the Week 11 game against the Minnesota Vikings in Mexico City.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan did not seem to attach much importance to the news. He stated that the reinstatement meant absolutely nothing to his team, describing the exemption as a mere administrative formality.

Aiyuk had been on the list of players who had left the team since December. He began the process of rejoining the team in recent weeks by hiring agent Drew Rosenhaus and submitting his official application in late October.

Three Options for the 49ers

On Friday, Aiyuk and Rosenhaus met with 49ers executives at the team's offices for about 75 minutes. Upon leaving, Rosenhaus indicated that discussions would continue. Before the meeting, the wide receiver told reporters he felt in top shape after a long rehabilitation process and was back to 100 percent.

The 28-year-old tore the anterior cruciate ligament, the medial collateral ligament, and the meniscus in his right knee on October 20, 2024. He hasn't played since.

Now that he has been activated, the 49ers will have to make a decision. A release has remained the most likely scenario since the start of the offseason. A trade has long been the team's preferred option, but no trade partner has been found so far, and the trade deadline is set for Tuesday at 4 p.m. Eastern Time. Finally, the team could keep him, but that possibility seems to have been ruled out long ago.

Shanahan was clear on this point on Friday. When asked what he hoped to get out of the meeting, he replied that the matter no longer interested him, since the issue had long been settled for his team.

It must be said that the relationship between Aiyuk and the organization has deteriorated significantly over the past few months, particularly after his attacks against the team on social media. A first-round pick in 2020, Aiyuk had nevertheless posted two seasons with over 1,000 yards, including a selection to the NFL's Second-Team All-Pro in 2023.

Meanwhile, the 49ers clearly don't need him. The team is off to an excellent start to the season, with a 7-1 record, driven in large part by the contributions of its young players.

Sources

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