Despite leaving the door open, San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch didn't exactly sound enthusiastic about still-injured wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk returning to action this season in a recent radio appearance on KNBR 680.
Reading the tea leaves, it's hard to arrive at any other conclusion than Aiyuk has already played his last snap with the Niners, one that came on the devastating ACL and MCL tears back in October of 2024 against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Aiyuk's recent ride with San Francisco has been tumultuous, to say the least. A contractual standoff entering 2024 that nearly resulted in him being traded, only to be negated by head coach Kyle Shanahan and an 11th-hour contract extension, one which the balance of the 49ers front office reportedly immediately regretted, was followed by a frustrating campaign that culminated in said injury.
Then, there was the recent report from The Athletic's Mike Silver and Dianna Russini on how the Niners voided the receiver's guarantees for 2026, an action Aiyuk's camp opted not to challenge through the players union.
Oh so strange.
Despite all of that, and in light of every indication 2025 will be Aiyuk's last year in the Bay Area, there remains the remote possibility he returns for a would-be San Francisco postseason push.
Does that change anything, though? No, it won't.
Brandon Aiyuk's return for 49ers won't change what'll happen this offseason
Both Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan have left the door open for Aiyuk to come back. Lynch's recent comments expressed a desire to be "hopeful" for a return, but that's essentially the full extent of it.
Even if the embattled receiver manages to return and aid the 49ers into the playoffs, however, it's about as big a sure thing as possible he'll be playing elsewhere in 2026.
The fact Aiyuk chose not to combat the decision to void his guarantees is a pretty big indicator of him being "done" with the Niners in every extent possible, and it's likely he would welcome any way off the team this offseason no matter what. He wants out, plain and simple.
Meanwhile, and despite the relatively positive comments from Lynch and Shanahan, there's a strong likelihood they're both out of patience with him, too, evidenced by a report from a close friend of Lynch, Fox Sports' Jay Glazer, that suggested "it's up to Brandon" with regard to getting back on the field.
In tandem with the front office's newfound hardline approach on contracts that went into effect last offseason, jettisoning Aiyuk via a trade or outright release this offseason appears to be a foregone conclusion.
Even if he returns for the postseason and delivers for San Francisco in manners not unlike he performed at the tail end of the 2023 campaign, it wouldn't be enough to change the outcome.