SANTA CLARA, California, November 10, 2026 — The NFL has reinstated wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, giving the San Francisco 49ers a two-week roster exemption to decide how to handle the former All-Pro after an extended absence from the team.
Aiyuk was removed from the reserve/left squad list after requesting reinstatement and meeting with 49ers officials on Friday. The exemption runs through November 23, allowing San Francisco to carry him without using a place on its 53-man roster while it evaluates its options.
The receiver has not played since tearing the ACL and MCL in his right knee during a game against the Kansas City Chiefs on October 20, 2024. The 49ers placed him on the list in December 2025 after he stopped reporting to the team while rehabilitating the injury.
Coach Kyle Shanahan said the reinstatement was an administrative matter and did not change the club’s plans. Team officials have previously indicated that they do not expect Aiyuk to play for San Francisco again. The franchise could seek a trade before the deadline or release him before the exemption expires.
A separate contract dispute remains unresolved. The league has informed Aiyuk and the NFL Players Association that it believes he must repay the 49ers approximately $13 million in bonuses. San Francisco has also voided $27 million in guaranteed money for 2026 after determining that he failed to participate in team activities during his rehabilitation.
Aiyuk signed a four-year, $120 million extension before the 2024 season. He earned second-team All-Pro recognition in 2023 after recording 1,342 receiving yards, but his long absence and the unresolved financial dispute have left his next NFL destination uncertain.