Brandon Aiyuk says he will sign
with the Commanders if the 49ers grant his wish for a release
[June 25, 2026]
By JOSH DUBOW
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Disgruntled receiver Brandon Aiyuk said
he would sign immediately with the Washington Commanders if the San
Francisco 49ers grant his wish and release him.
Aiyuk is currently on the reserve/left squad list after he stopped
showing up late last season as he rehabilitates a knee injury that
has sidelined him since October 2024. Aiyuk wants to be released,
but the Niners have shown no urgency to make a move even though
general manager John Lynch has said he doesn’t expect Aiyuk to play
for the team again.
“Tell them boys cut me today and I’ll sign with the Commanders
tomorrow,” Aiyuk said on social media Wednesday.
The Commanders haven't commented on Aiyuk's status while he remains
under contract to San Francisco and haven't indicated that they
would sign him if he becomes available.
Aiyuk signed a four-year, $120 million extension with San Francisco
just before the start of the 2024 season following a lengthy
contract “hold in” that kept him out of practice that summer.
Aiyuk played seven games and caught 25 passes that season before
going down with a season-ending knee injury and the acrimony between
the sides only increased. The 49ers voided $27 million guaranteed in
Aiyuk’s contract for 2026 last summer because he failed to
participate in meetings and other team activities.
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Aiyuk then left the team late in the season and has
not talked to coach Kyle Shanahan or Lynch since then, communicating
only through social media messages, calling the team “stupid” for
paying him so much money.
Aiyuk could put pressure on the 49ers to make a decision if he shows
up when the 49ers report to training camp on July 25. Until he
reports, the 49ers can keep him on the reserve list without him
counting to the salary cap or the roster limits.
Aiyuk has three years remaining on the four-year, $120 million
extension he signed last year, including a nearly $25 million option
bonus due before the start of this season. But he now has no
guaranteed money remaining and won’t be owed anything unless he
reports to the team.
The 28-year-old Aiyuk has 294 catches for 4,305 yards and 25 TDs
since being drafted in the first round in 2020.
Aiyuk recently had an arrest warrant issued by Santa Clara County on
a misdemeanor charge of exhibition of speeding in response to a
video Aiyuk posted to social media last December that appeared to
show him speeding on the road in front of Levi’s Stadium.
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