The wide receiver, who hasn't played since tearing his ACL in October 2024, has hired agent Drew Rosenhaus to help force a resolution with San Francisco.
Brandon Aiyuk has filed paperwork with the NFL seeking reinstatement from the reserve/left squad list, and plans to report to the 49ers' facility on Friday, agent Drew Rosenhaus confirmed. The move is the first concrete step in a saga that has dragged on for more than a year, since Aiyuk went down with a knee injury in October 2024 and later left the team amid a bitter dispute.
Aiyuk had been without representation for a stretch after firing agent Ryan Williams during the fallout, before recently bringing on Rosenhaus to steer his comeback attempt. He has remained on the reserve/left squad list since December 13 of last season, which has kept him ineligible to play.
Once reinstated, Aiyuk will still be under contract with San Francisco, putting the decision back in the 49ers' hands. The team has previously indicated he won't suit up for them again, and now faces the choice of trading him or releasing him outright, with a straight release viewed as the likelier path. The 49ers have not commented, and the NFL has not responded to requests for comment on the application.