As the San Francisco 49ers brace for the final stretch of a playoff push, the biggest unknown isn’t scheme, seeding, or momentum; it’s whether Brandon Aiyuk will ever take the field again this season. The 27-year-old wideout is still rehabbing the torn ACL, MCL, and meniscus he suffered last October, and with only four games left post-bye, even Kyle Shanahan is no longer counting on his return. Yet, both Shanahan and GM John Lynch maintain a sliver of cautious hope as the team navigates the financial and football realities tied to Aiyuk’s future.

“Yes, throughout the process, there’s been a lot of communication. When you make a commitment to a player like that, your hopes are that everything goes smooth and that’s not always the case, and there’ve been some bumps in the road, but I’m hopeful we can get him back on this field.”

Both Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan maintained the same view, as optimism appeared to be vanishing. The duo talked about the situation in a conversation with Bay Area radio station KNBR last week:

“Realistic? I’m not sure,” Lynch said. “Hopeful? Yeah. So, I think that’s kind of where I’d leave that. He continues to rehab, and hopefully, that’s, like I’ve always said, we’re a better football team when Brandon’s out there, and I hope that’s the case.

Shanahan’s remarks made it clear he’s preparing the offense as if Aiyuk won’t be available: “Oh, I’m definitely still hopeful. I’m not counting on it, but I’m definitely still hoping that can happen.”

The 49ers aren’t the first contenders forced to navigate a star receiver’s injury while balancing major contract decisions. In 2022, the Tennessee Titans faced a similar dilemma with A.J. Brown, ultimately trading him rather than committing cap space during uncertainty. More recently, the Chargers weighed Keenan Allen’s durability concerns before restructuring his deal in 2023. Aiyuk’s situation now places San Francisco in that same league-wide pattern of difficult, timing-sensitive decisions.

Not just Lynch and Shanahan, but tight end George Kittle also gave his views on the fiasco.

The 49ers front office staff has its work cut out for it, especially after offering Aiyuk the extension last season. Whether he would return to the team or not will be a decision that affects the 49ers off the field as well.

49ers face cap crunch amid Brand Aiyuk situation

According to ESPN’s breakdown, moving on from Aiyuk in 2026 would leave the 49ers with about $29.6 million in dead money on the cap. If they designate him as a post-June 1 release (or trade him after June 1), they could spread that hit over two seasons, roughly $13.3 million in 2026 and the remainder in 2027 instead of eating it all at once.

October 6, 2024, Santa Clara, California, USA: NFL, American Football Herren, USA 2024: 49ers vs Jets: San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk 11 during pregame warmup at Levi s Stadium. His first game since signing his new contract o a four-year, million contract extension in August 2024, with million guaranteed. However, the 49ers recently voided the guaranteed money for the 2026 season due to Aiyuk not meeting contract requirements, an unusual situation that may lead to his departure from the team. Santa Clara USA – ZUMAk13_ 20241006_zap_k13_048 Copyright: xPaulxKurodaxKeeping him on the roster would mean carrying a 2026 cap charge in the mid-teens, so whatever San Francisco decides will directly shape how much flexibility it has to build around Brock Purdy over the next couple of years.

A decision will have to be made sooner rather than later, especially with just four games remaining. On the field, the 49ers are riding high with a 9-4 record and a three-game winning streak. Shanahan will look to continue the momentum when the team faces the Tennessee Titans on December 15.

Let’s also have a look at some of the players who have outperformed the rest of the league and have established themselves as strong candidates for the MVP award:

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