Like many around the NFL, NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero is growing increasingly concerned about San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, whose recent social media behavior has fueled speculation about his mental state.
Pelissero hopes Aiyuk's actions are simply an attempt at humor rather than a sign of something more serious.
"I hope Brandon Aiyuk is just being funny and is not unwell through the course of this," Pelissero said while filling in as guest host on The Rich Eisen Show. "The fact that every video is him alone doing these things strikes me as odd."
Aiyuk appears determined to force the 49ers to release him, believing the Washington Commanders would quickly sign him if he became a free agent. However, his public campaign has only intensified concerns surrounding the receiver, who has not played since suffering a significant knee injury in 2024.
The relationship between Aiyuk and the 49ers reportedly deteriorated during his rehabilitation. The team ultimately voided his guaranteed money because of his actions, after which Aiyuk cut off communication with the organization. That led San Francisco to place him on the reserve/left squad list, effectively ending any chance of a 2025 return.
If Aiyuk's goal is to force the 49ers to officially move on, Pelissero believes he's taking the wrong approach.
"Listen, here's what the situation boils down to," Pelissero continued. "Brandon Aiyuk, it doesn't matter how many videos you post, how many names you call the 49ers and their front office, how many different times you say you want to be on the Commanders, and you got a Commanders hat and a Commanders football, and you love the Commanders, and 'Go Commanders,' you have to show up.
"The only way you get cut is if you show up to the facility, force the 49ers' hand, force them to move you back to the active roster, or release you. They can't really move you back to the active roster because all that money that you're owed would suddenly hit the salary cap. That's what you do."
According to Pelissero, the 49ers have no incentive to act right now. The team is away until training camp opens in late July.
"You need to show up to the facility once the 49ers are back," Pelissero said. "And at that point, you force their hand as opposed to them just being able to go, 'We don't care. We want to trade you, no one's trading for you, you're still on the team.'"
When asked whether the Commanders would still be interested in Aiyuk despite his recent behavior, Pelissero suggested Washington may be the receiver's only realistic landing spot.
"I don't know that there is another team right now that, frankly, wants to get involved with it," Pelissero said. "His in with the Commanders is Adam Peters, who's the GM. He was in San Francisco when they drafted him. And [QB] Jayden Daniels, he played with him at Arizona State.
"I don't know how much he's talked to Jayden, quite frankly. He's not allowed to talk to Adam Peters or anybody else in the Commanders organization. I do believe, as he said himself, if he gets released, he's going to sign in Washington, and that makes sense.
"There's not going to be a bidding war for Brandon Aiyuk. He hasn't played a football game in 20 months. We don't even know if he's fully healthy, if he ever completed his rehab. So, yes, the Commanders is absolutely the team to beat, if not the only team."
Mentioned in this article: Brandon Aiyuk
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