Brandon Aiyuk
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk.
Maybe the Washington Commanders are so desperate at this point that they might be willing to do the unthinkable — make a trade for San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport reported on Saturday morning that the Commanders haven’t totally closed the door on landing Aiyuk.
“The Commanders haven’t completely abandoned the idea of adding wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, who was rumored during the summer to end up in Washington, according to sources,” Schefter and Rapoport wrote. “But before an Aiyuk deal were to happen — if it were to happen — the organization would have to have discussions with multiple people. It’s not a no, but it’s also not a yes just yet.”
The Commanders, 2-4-1, desperately need help at wide receiver after $97 million NFL All-Pro Terry McLaurin suffered a season-ending torn patellar tendon.
Aiyuk, who signed a 4-year, $120 million contract extension with the 49ers before the 2024 season, hasn’t played football in over two years — since suffering a catastrophic knee injury in Week 7 of the 2024 regular season against the Kansas City Chiefs.
He left the 49ers midway through the 2025 season while rehabbing his knee injury and began attempts to be reinstated this week after the 49ers were forced to void his $26 million salary.
There are more hurdles than that to get past, however.
Tony Adame covers the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Denver Broncos, Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, San Francisco 49ers, and the entire NFC East Division. A veteran sports writer and editor since 2004, his work has been featured at Stadium Talk, Yardbarker, NW Florida Daily News and Pensacola News Journal. More about Tony Adame