Officially, wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk remains on the San Francisco 49ers' roster, albeit on the reserve/left squad list. Unofficially, Aiyuk has nothing to do with the team at this point. General manager John Lynch made that clear on Monday.
Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area asked Lynch about the option bonus Aiyuk was previously due on September 1, questioning whether it still applies now that the receiver is on the reserve/left squad list or whether the 49ers would need to make a roster move before then.
"No, nothing changed there," Lynch said. "He's on the reserve/left squad list, and as such, he's just kind of not on our roster, so that's where that's at."
Maiocco followed up to clarify whether any money Aiyuk may have previously been due is also on hold.
"Correct," Lynch affirmed.
Aiyuk does not count against the 49ers' 53-man roster, and until he files for NFL reinstatement, the team has no action to take. He can remain on the reserve/left squad list throughout the season if it comes to that.
September 1 was seen as a potential deadline because most assumed Aiyuk would do whatever he needed to ensure the 49ers released him. That was simply applying for reinstatement and reporting to the team. He has refused to do that, effectively sabotaging his own NFL career.
"I will not be reinstating with them nor ever doing any kind of business with them," Aiyuk wrote on Instagram in July.
Aiyuk had hoped the 49ers would release him, allowing him to sign with the Washington Commanders, his preferred destination. However, his offseason saga, which included bizarre public criticism of the 49ers, may have caused interested teams, including the Commanders, to move on.
Meanwhile, 49ers wide receiver Demarcus Robinson is switching his jersey number from No. 7 to No. 11, Aiyuk's former number in San Francisco.
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