Brandon Aiyuk signals potential return ahead of trade deadline

San Francisco 49ers receiver Brandon Aiyuk has a new agent and a renewed push to return to an NFL field.

Aiyuk has hired Drew Rosenhaus for representation, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported. Rosenhaus said he is “working on getting him back to work and playing again in the NFL.” Aiyuk was previously represented by Ryan Williams but reportedly fired him last November, blaming Williams for the issues with the 49ers.

Aiyuk, who suffered a season-ending ACL injury in 2024, spent the 2025 season away from the team and spent the 2026 offseason venting on social media. He publicly criticized the 49ers and expressed a desire to join the Washington Commanders, given he and Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels played together for one season at Arizona State. A trade never materialized, though, as San Francisco placed Aiyuk on the reserve/left squad list in December. He would need to report to the team and be reinstated before he can return to the field.

This new move, though, signals a renewed interest to see the field. With the trade deadline approaching on Nov. 10, it would make sense for Aiyuk to be reinstated and potentially cut or traded away by the 49ers. Even though he could still technically return to the 49ers, all indications from general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan are that he is no longer a part of the team’s plans.

“We wish him well,” Lynch said this summer, while Shanahan simply said “no” in September when asked about welcoming Aiyuk back.

He remains under contract through 2028 after signing a four-year, $120 million extension in 2024, months before a season-ending knee injury. However, the 49ers voided all of his guarantees in 2025, meaning the team could cut him as soon as he reports and is reinstated. That would be the simplest path for him, as it would be hard to see any team giving up assets for Aiyuk and his contract, even with all of the baggage he brings.

Either way, this is the first sign that the 49ers may be finally able to move on from Aiyuk after a tumultuous two years.

This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: Brandon Aiyuk signals potential return ahead of trade deadline

Source: sports.yahoo.com — article syndicated from the publisher’s feed; all rights remain with the original publisher.