The San Francisco 49ers are uncertain about the precise timing of wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk’s return following his knee injury sustained last year. It’s anticipated to be around the midpoint of the upcoming season.
According to head coach Kyle Shanahan, there remains a spectrum of possibilities. He’s considering Week Six as a potential timeframe not only for Aiyuk’s anticipated debut in 2025 but also for quarterback Kurtis Rourke and safety Malik Mustapha, both of whom are also recuperating from knee injuries.
“I tend to group those players together in my mind, whether it’s Mustapha, Rourke, or Brandon,” Shanahan stated. “I generally target Week Six as a reference point for all of them, but that could easily shift to Week 10 or even Week Five. It’s still quite distant. I’m aware it’s not imminent like Week One, so I’m not dwelling on it excessively.”
Aiyuk suffered ACL and MCL tears on October 20 of the previous season during a contest against the Kansas City Chiefs. The 49ers’ Week Six matchup is scheduled against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on October 12. Therefore, if Aiyuk were to return by that date, it would signify an absence of slightly less than a year.
Aiyuk, aged 27, demonstrated standout performance as one of the league’s premier wide receivers in 2023. However, his output had diminished in 2024 before his season was abruptly curtailed. The 49ers are optimistic about witnessing the resurgence of Aiyuk’s 2023 form in 2025, even if it requires patience until several weeks into the season.
