With receiver Brandon Aiyuk unwilling to seek reinstatement to the 49ers’ roster, nothing he says or does matters until he changes his position and files the proper paperwork with the league.
And while there’s no indication his mindset has altered, his latest social-media message is aimed not at the 49ers but at the NFL Players Association.
In the series of statements pasted into one graphic, Aiyuk creates the impression that, after he told the NFLPA he didn’t want to appeal the 49ers’ voiding of his guarantees because he would just play for the Commanders, the union decided to “start a smear campaign and tarnish your NIL.”
Aiyuk suggests his response was to say it would “make me sad but I’m still going to DC.” He then indicates that the union’s response was to clam up.
While the broader message isn’t clear, Aiyuk could be saying he was under the impression he’d be released by the 49ers, and the NFLPA didn’t tell him otherwise. (It makes sense, given a prior Instagram accusing the union of “lying/withholding information.”)
Regardless, Aiyuk’s path to a ticket out of San Francisco remains clear. One, file for reinstatement. Two, hope the league grants the request. Three, if/when the league does, show up for training camp and assume the 49ers will cut him before he risks a season-ending injury that would put them on the hook for more than $26 million in 2026 compensation.
Nothing will happen until those things occur — unless the 49ers decide on their own to release Aiyuk from the reserve/retired list. They’ve shown no inclination to do that. And there’s nothing that compels them to do so.
In the current posture, the 49ers don’t have to do a thing. They don’t owe him a penny. And they can essentially keep his career in limbo, indefinitely.
