San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan addressed the media this week at the NFL's annual meeting in Florida, providing a brief update on the status of wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. The veteran wideout is working his way back from a torn ACL and MCL suffered in October.
While most assume Aiyuk won't be ready for the 2025 season opener, Shanahan and the 49ers aren't entirely ruling out the possibility. Still, the head coach acknowledged it's far too early to make any firm predictions.
When asked about a potential return date, Shanahan responded, "I don't know. I mean, it's too early to tell. I mean, the goal is always early. You hope to have it right away, but we're told that by his doctor and everything, there's a chance, but it's too early in the process."
That single word—chance—has sparked recent headlines. However, Jauan Jennings and rookie Ricky Pearsall will likely be the Week 1 starters at wide receiver, barring any significant changes to the roster this offseason.
For now, Shanahan prefers to wait and see how Aiyuk's rehab continues to unfold.
"We'll see as we get closer to training camp what that looks like," Shanahan added.
Aiyuk signed a lucrative contract extension before last season but missed valuable practice time during prolonged negotiations. That absence appeared to affect his performance, as he finished the year with just 25 catches for 374 yards and no touchdowns in his seven games.
General manager John Lynch also chose not to commit to a specific timeline for Aiyuk's return but shared a promising update. The wideout recently met with Dr. Neal ElAttrache, the surgeon who repaired his knee, and Lynch had an encouraging update.
"He went down there to Dr. Neal ElAttrache last week," Lynch said Monday. "I'm not going to get into timelines and all that, but he did very well. We're pleased with Brandon's progress. He has been working hard and has gotten good reviews from Dr. ElAttrache."
So, is there a chance Aiyuk is ready for Week 1? Yes. The 49ers aren't dismissing it. However, the more likely scenario is that his return will come later in the season. ESPN's Adam Schefter recently offered a more realistic outlook, saying, "I would think he's ready to play by mid-season."
Fans await updates on Aiyuk's recovery to see how much the wide receiver can contribute in 2025.