ClutchPoints
The Brandon Aiyuk saga is finally nearing an end. One year removed from Aiyuk signing a four-year, $120 million contract extension, the San Francisco 49ers are ready to move on from the former first-round pick. After a tumultuous offseason that saw the 49ers void the remaining guarantees in Aiyuk’s deal and the receiver refuse to attend practices amidst his recovery, the team put the final nail in the coffin for his future in the red and gold.
The 49ers are placing Brandon Aiyuk on the reserve/left squad list, making him ineligible to return this season, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The move sets up an expected divorce between the two parties in the offseason.
San Francisco has been holding out hope that Aiyuk would return all season. After being present throughout parts of Training Camp and even running routes before Week 2 of the Preseason vs. Las Vegas Raiders, Aiyuk went AWOL. He would do his rehab in the morning when no media or his teammates were present. He even stopped returning some of his teammates’ texts amid the dispute with the organization.
Despite the lingering issues, general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan have repeatedly said they would welcome Aiyuk back with open arms, especially knowing the team’s need for a No. 1 wide receiver in the current playoff climate.
However, any hopes of Aiyuk returning are over. Now, the team and Aiyuk can start the process of facilitating either a release or trade to end what has been one of the most dysfunctional relationships of the past two seasons.
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