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Five weeks after the San Francisco 49ers expected to have star wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk back from injury, the All-Pro wideout still has yet to be activated from the physically unable to perform list.
San Francisco could use the 27-year-old Aiyuk, who recovering from torn ACL and MCL injuries, to inject some life into a wide receiver corps that’s produced lackluster results 11 games into the season.
Days before the 49ers’ 41-22 win over the Arizona Cardinals, general manager John Lynch updated everyone on whether or not Aiyuk could miss the entire 2025 season.
“That’s not the intention, the intention is to get Brandon back,” Lynch told KNBR when asked if this season would be a redshirt year for Aiyuk. “We’re not there yet, we just got to get him to a place where we’re comfortable opening that window, and see if he can make it back on the field. That is the intention. But we’ll see, no absolutes there.”
Latest Aiyuk Development Is Concerning
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San Francisco 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk
Though Aiyuk hasn’t been cleared to practice, he has been getting in work on his own with trainers and coaches, and he even caught some passes from quarterback Brock Purdy during warm ups before games in the preseason.
While the 49ers told reporters before the season started that they anticipated getting Aiyuk back on the roster around Week 7, he’s been delayed as his ACL hasn’t healed as quickly as initially thought.
“When you have such a big injury like that, you wait until he’s fully comfortable to come up and start practicing,” head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters on Monday, via NBC Sports Bay Area.
With the end of the regular season inching closer and closer, some wondered if Aiyuk could be activated of the PUP list ahead of San Francisco’s Week 12 matchup against the Carolina Panthers on “Monday Night Football,” but head coach Kyle Shanahan informed reporters on Monday that won’t happen.
“The 49ers will NOT open the practice window for WR Brandon Aiyuk this week, coach Kyle Shanahan said,” NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco wrote. “Aiyuk sustained his severe right knee injury in Week 7 (Oct. 20) of the 2024 season.”
With Aiyuk shelved for over a year, running back Christian McCaffrey has assumed the role of San Francisco’s No. 1 receiver.
McCaffrey leads the team with 74 receptions, 96 targets, 732 yards, and five touchdowns. Kendrick Bourne leads all 49ers WRs in receiving yards (482), while Jauan Jennings leads WRs in catches (32) and targets (56).
Another 49ers WR Could Be Nearing a Return
San Francisco can use all the wide receiver help it can get. While Aiyuk is expected back at some point, the team could also benefit from the return of another pass-catcher who has yet to make his season debut.
Jacob Cowing, a fourth-round pick in 2024, has been on injured reserve since Week 1. He suffered a hamstring injury during training camp, and he’s been out ever since.
Maiocco reported on Monday the 49ers plan to open Cowing’s 21-day practice window after the team’s Week 14 bye. Cowing had just four catches for 80 yards as a rookie last season, but he made his presence felt in the return game.
Cowing returned 28 punts for 245 yards and one kickoff for 32 yards in 2024.
