Considering the nature of WR Brandon Aiyuk’s offseason storylines, it was not surprising that 49ers GM John Lynch was asked multiple Aiyuk-related questions on Saturday, when veterans reported for training camp. It was likewise not surprising that Lynch largely deflected those questions.
Lynch told reporters, including ESPN’s Nick Wagoner, “Brandon is on a left squad designation. As such, he’s not on our 90-man roster. And I’m personally, and we as an organization, are going to focus on the players that are here. And so, I don’t have anything to say on that, anything to add to that. We wish him well. We wish his family well.”
Aiyuk has been on the reserve/left squad list since December, and just as he did not file a grievance after the Niners voided the remaining guarantees on his contract, he has not yet filed for reinstatement with the league. A successful application for reinstatement would force San Francisco to release him, because he would then count against the club’s 90-man roster and salary cap.
But until Aiyuk takes that step, Lynch appears content to maintain the status quo. Aiyuk’s social media blast of Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels notwithstanding, the 28-year-old wideout has made it plain he would like to join Washington. As Wagoner details, Aiyuk recently said he purchased a $10MM home in Loudon County, Virginia, near the Commanders’ practice facility.
However, the 49ers and Commanders play each other in Week 6 of the upcoming season. Matt Barrows of The Athletic asked Lynch if that fact is playing a role in the GM’s decision to keep Aiyuk on the reserve/left squad list rather than release him and Lynch replied, “Matt, I understand you got to do your job. I understand. But as I said at the start, he’s on that list. That means he’s not on our roster. I’m going to focus on the guys that are and stand by what we’ve said already” (via Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic).
In one of his many social media posts on his 49ers and/or Commanders, Aiyuk claimed Lynch had visited him at his home without an invitation. Lynch was asked about that allegation as well and replied, “I can tell you that at the forefront of our thoughts with any player is their well-being. I’ll just leave it at that. But we wish him and we wish his family well.”
Even if he applies for reinstatement and has his request granted, it is not a given the Commanders or any other club will offer Aiyuk an opportunity. For now, the situation remains in a holding pattern, and the 49ers will move forward with an overhauled receiver room that includes veteran acquisitions Mike Evans and Christian Kirk and second-round rookie De’Zhaun Stribling.
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