10
Loading video...
By TJ Macias
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
As the football world anticipates a really “well, this is awkward” situation at San Francisco 49ers headquarters come Friday when wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk files for reinstatement, the NFL Management Council is working to “navigate” through the situation, 49ers general manager John Lynch said on Thursday.
Aiyuk has been inactive for two years after suffering a knee injury in 2024 that ended his season with San Francisco. After being put on the reserve/left squad list in December of 2025, Aiyuk vowed to never return to the Niners over the summer. Well, that didn’t last long.
Now, it looks like there’s a balance to be paid before the veteran is allowed to return.
Read More on NFL
“Veteran WR Brandon Aiyuk owes the 49ers roughly $13 million in bonus forfeiture – a potential complication in his efforts to secure his release by reporting to the facility Friday,” The Ringer’s Tom Pelissero reported on X.
“The NFL Management Council and the NFL Players Association are both involved in attempting to resolve the situation. The sides could reach an agreement to pay back the money, or it could go to arbitration. But it’s complicated and may take time to resolve.”
Head coach Kyle Shanahan said on Wednesday that he had “no expectation” for an Aiyuk return and had “moved on with that mentally,” The Mercury News reported.
Players had mixed reactions to a potential return.
“Do you think he gets in the facility?” tight end George Kittle asked, Mercury News said. “I plead the fifth. You can ask John or Kyle. Don’t ask me, I’m a conspiracy guy. I plead the fifth.”
Left tackle Trent Williams took a different side.
...
“I haven’t talked to him, but obviously Aiyuk is family,” Williams said, according to Mercury News. “What he went through in his career and business endeavors, you step back and let him figure it out. We’re just focused on the Raiders. If he comes in, I’d be happy to see him, but that’s out of our hands.”
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines