49ers Coach Addresses Brandon Aiyuk's Departure

The San Francisco 49ers have placed wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk on the reserve/left squad list, a decision that could have been perceived as a distraction to the team. However, head coach Kyle Shanahan has clarified that the team has adjusted well to Aiyuk's absence.

Shanahan told reporters, "We haven't seen him in forever. That's the decision that they make. It's been pretty simple for me, I mean, I haven't seen him in a month, same with our team. It hasn't been an issue with our team at all. We've been plugging away. No big deal. It's just something we've been used to for a while."

Aiyuk's Career and Current Circumstances

Brandon Aiyuk was on track for a promising career, having recorded back-to-back seasons with over 1,000 receiving yards in 2022 and 2023. However, a torn ACL and MCL during the 2024 campaign set him back significantly. The wide receiver was also in the spotlight due to a contract standoff that included trade discussions, before signing a lucrative four-year, $120 million extension in the 2024 offseason.

This season, Aiyuk has not been on the field, and reports indicated he has not participated in meetings or team activities, leading to the loss of guaranteed money for the upcoming season. According to The Athletic's Dianna Russini and Michael Silver, he had the option to seek a grievance through the NFL Players Association to reclaim his future earnings, but he chose not to pursue that route.

His contract included a fully guaranteed $24.9 million option bonus for 2026, alongside a base salary of $1.2 million and a roster bonus of $750,000 for each game he was active next season. Following the decision to move him to the reserve/left squad list, it seems likely that Aiyuk will enter free agency this offseason.

Despite the loss of a talented receiver like Aiyuk, the 49ers have continued to thrive, boasting a record of 10-4 and positioning themselves for a playoff run this season.