The San Francisco 49ers are starting to get healthy, but they are still missing one star player. Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk remains out due to an ACL recovery, and there is concern he may now return in 2025. Despite those concerns, general manager Jon Lynch has provided a major ultimatum on the receiver’s return.
There is plenty of the 2025 season left to play. Most teams have already played at least nine games, which leaves just eight left in the regular season. Essentially, the NFL is at the midpoint, and the 49ers remain one of the top teams in the NFC.
If San Francisco were not battling for first place in the NFC West and had a 6-4 record, it would likely be smarter for Aiyuk to just ride this year out healing. However, the 49ers have a strong chance at the playoffs.
With Aiyuk being close to a return, Lynch offered a strong ultimatum about his return.
Lynch was asked if the 2025 season could be treated as a “red shirt” year for Aiyuk, but the 49ers general manager shot that idea down completely.
“That’s not the intention, the intention is to get Brandon back. We’re not there yet, we just gotta 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,” Lynch said.
Essentially, the 49ers are waiting for Aiyuk to be ready, and they expect that he will be ready soon. Lynch spoke about his recovery at the end of October, stating that there was “real progress” being made.
Lynch has doubled down on the idea that Aiyuk can play in 2025. The outlook appears to be he may return in December at some point, which would be ideal for a playoff push.
Lynch also said “We’ll see,” but there are multiple reports that Aiyuk is recovering in a way that he will see the field this season. Even if he returns in the playoffs, the 49ers would get a major boost to their offense with Aiyuk coming back.
Aiyuk had back-to-back 1,000+ yard seasons in 2022 and 2023, picking up 1,015 yards and eight touchdowns in 2022, and 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns in 2023. This led to him receiving a four-year, $120 million contract extension in August 2024.
Unfortunately, he suffered an ACL tear in Week 8 of the 2024 season. Now, he has been actively recovering and attempting to make his return to the 49ers.
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