BrandonAiyuk

News: 1 day agoThe 49ers reinstated Aiyuk (personal) from the reserve/left squad list Monday and were granted a two-week roster exemption for the wide receiver, Tom Pelissero of Netflix reports.

Spin: In what amounted to a procedural transaction after Aiyuk met with team officials Friday upon filing his paperwork for reinstatement, the 49ers now have until Nov. 23 to either add him to the 53-man roster, release him or trade him. Given that Aiyuk owes the 49ers roughly $13 million in bonus forfeiture, securing a release from the team could prove difficult, though it's possible that the two sides work out a repayment plan that would allow him to become a free agent. In addition to the financial complications potentially delaying Aiyuk's return to the field, it's unclear if the 49ers or any other team have interest in rostering the 28-year-old wideout, who hasn't played an NFL snap since tearing the ACL and MCL in his right knee Oct. 20, 2024 and undergoing surgery.

ESPN Fantasy Projection: Aiyuk remains on the 49ers' roster, but is not expected to rejoin the team. The veteran receiver was out all of last season while recovering from a torn ACL and MCL suffered in October 2024. In his two full seasons prior to the injury, Aiyuk delivered back-to-back top-15 fantasy seasons, including a 2023 campaign in which he produced a career-high 1,342 yards (seventh among wide receivers) and ranked in the top five at the position in yards per reception, yards per target and yards per route run. Even prior to the 2024 injury, however, Aiyuk was underperforming, scoring zero TDs and reaching double-digit fantasy points only once in seven games. Aiyuk is still in his prime at 28 years old, but his role and effectiveness are currently unclear. He's off the fantasy radar.