SANTA CLARA - The 49ers' plan at wide receiver this season was draped in maroon and gold. The Niners were supposed to ride into this postseason on the backs of two Arizona State products, a Tempe two-step atop the wide receiver depth chart designed to torment defensive coordinators from Seattle to Philadelphia. Brandon Aiyuk (Arizona State 2018-19) was the established star, the alpha, the $30-million man.
The 49ers, as first reported Friday by The Athletic, have voided the $25 million bonus guaranteed for 2026 in Aiyuk's contract, which was contentiously hashed out prior to last season (four years, $120 million). That move signals Aiyuk's potential ouster next spring, and while that mutual adjustment happened months ago, Aiyuk continues to report for morning conditioning sessions at the team facility, according to a team source.
Several offensive players missed significant time. The 27-year-old tore his ACL and MCL against the Chiefs in a Week 7 loss. Brandon Aiyuk is on the PUP list to start the 2025 season. General manager John Lynch gave an update on Aiyuk's recovery timeline. While Brandon Aiyuk has not suffered a setback, Lynch said the WR is "not close" to returning from a knee injury.
