Aiyuk Applies for Reinstatement and Will Report to 49ers on Friday

Brandon Aiyuk's long absence from the San Francisco 49ers could be nearing a resolution. The wide receiver has officially applied for reinstatement from the reserve/left squad list, with his agent Drew Rosenhaus confirming plans for him to report to the team's training facility on Friday afternoon. Aiyuk has been away since suffering ACL and MCL injuries against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 7 of the 2024 season, and his relationship with the club has deteriorated badly in the meantime. General manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan previously indicated that Aiyuk had likely played his final game for San Francisco, and reports suggest the 49ers would prefer to find a trade partner rather than grant him his release. The timing sharpens the decision. The NFL trade deadline falls at 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday, November 10, giving the 49ers only a few days after his return to decide whether to bring him back into the fold, explore a trade, or release him. Aiyuk's return to the building is the first concrete step in months toward an ending, one way or another. For a player once central to San Francisco's offence, Friday's arrival will be watched closely across the league, with teams in need of receiver help alert to any opening.