Will Brandon Aiyuk Stay with 49ers? Kyle Shanahan Addresses Rumors on Star WR

Kyle Shanahan said Saturday he is still "holding out hope" Brandon Aiyuk will return to the San Francisco 49ers despite the team's decision to void the guaranteed money in his contract for 2026.

Aiyuk was placed on the Physically Unable to Perform list in July. The 49ers voided his 2026 guarantees the same month, according to a report from The Athletic's Dianna Russini and Michael Silver.

Shanahan confirmed the move in his press conference on Saturday, but declined to explain the team's decision.

He also said he believed Aiyuk could still return to the Niners despite what Russini and Silver reported has been an increasing distance from his teammates.

"What happened in July, to me, in my opinion, doesn't have anything to do with the future," Shanahan said Saturday. "That had to do with circumstances that, to me, were out of a coach's hand. Best way I can explain it, when it comes to business matters, and lawyers, and contracts, and things like that.

"When it comes to the future of this, I would love for BA to be here. I would love for him to get healthy, and get back to really helping us out, and being a part of this team. We haven't had that in a little bit, and I still hold out hope that he can get there. But he obviously hasn't gotten there, yet."

The strain between the 49ers and Aiyuk started following the Niners' run to Super Bowl LVIII, after which the wide receiver staged a hold-in for a raise on his fifth-year option.

Aiyuk had requested a trade by the time the 49ers resolved the dispute by signing him to a four-year, $120 million extension including $76 million in guarantees.

The wide receiver played just seven games on that new deal before suffering a season-ending right knee injury involving a torn ACL and MCL in Week 7 of the 2024 campaign.

His contract previously included a $24.935 million option bonus for 2026 that became fully guaranteed on April 1, per Spotrac.

According to Russini and Silver, the 49ers voided that bonus by citing Aiyuk's reported absence from team activities as a breach of contract. Shanahan did not confirm that Saturday, saying instead that it is typical for injured players to miss team activities.

Shanahan also said there "isn't a lot of dialogue" between himself and Aiyuk, but that the wide receiver is considered week-to-week and has not yet been medically cleared by the team to return.

The 49ers have leaned on Christian McCaffrey as a top target in Aiyuk's absence this season, during which the running back has racked up 732 receiving yards and 707 rushing yards through 11 games.

McCaffrey will once more be tasked with a heavy workload when the 49ers take on the visiting Carolina Panthers in a Week 12 Monday night matchup that will mark the team's 22nd straight game without Aiyuk.