Will Brandon Aiyuk Be Released? 'Stunning Divorce' with 49ers Reportedly Possible

The San Francisco 49ers could cut ties with wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk in a "stunning divorce," according to Dianna Russini and Michael Silver of The Athletic.

Per Russini and Silver, Aiyuk has "failed to attend meetings and declined to participate in other team activities in recent months," leading to the 49ers becoming "increasingly frustrated" with the lack of communication.

"The 49ers, sources say, responded by voiding the guaranteed money in Aiyuk's contract for 2026, asserting that the absences amounted to a failure to fulfill his contractual obligations," Russini and Silver reported Friday. "Aiyuk, according to multiple league sources, told NFL Players Association representatives that he did not want to fight the move via an official grievance. That would clear the way for his expected release at season's end."

Aiyuk has yet to make his season debut as he continues to recover from a torn ACL and MCL in his right knee that he suffered in Oct. 2024.

The 49ers releasing the 27-year-old would be especially surprising considering they handed him a four-year extension worth $120 million in Aug. 2024. The agreement came after a lengthy contract dispute that included him holding in during training camp.

San Francisco reportedly voiding Aiyuk's future guarantees allows them to gain some more financial flexibility moving forward, as his deal contained a $24.935 million option bonus for the 2026 season (via Over the Cap).

The 49ers selected Aiyuk with a first-round pick in the 2020 NFL draft, as the former Arizona State standout gradually blossomed into a key piece of the team's passing attack.

His individual production steadily increased throughout each of his first four years in San Francisco, capped off by a 2023 campaign in which he hauled in 75 receptions for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns in 16 games. Aiyuk received a Second Team All-Pro selection for his efforts.

He struggled to make a similar impact in 2024 following his extension, averaging just 53.4 yards per game across seven appearances and failing to find the end zone.

While the 49ers have returned to NFC playoff contention this season with a 7-4 record, Aiyuk's long-term future with the team appears to be in serious doubt.