Brandon Aiyuk is a Quitter! Pick #25, 2020 NFL Draft

Originally posted by 49ersRing:
He hasn't hit his "marks" (being able to walk without assistance) yet.

It's pretty wild. I didn't expect BA to help the team much this season, but I fully expected him to at least get back on the field. Was the injury really that bad? We've heard that it involved more than just the ACL, but damn, dude missed more than half the season last year and had the entire offseason to rehab. They're going into week 10 of the 2025 season and are basically signaling that they don't expect BA to play this year.

Part of me still feel like they're going to trade him away, so maybe they're just keeping him bubble wrapped for as long as possible. I don't know. The situation feels off.

No, he had a major injury, a torn ACL and MCL in his right knee. It can and has taken 6 months to a year and up to two years for a professional athlete to return to pre-injury activity. Brandon is doing exactly what he should be doing and he is following medical and professonial advice from his doctors, PT's and coaches. Returning early just because the team needs him threatens re-injury or permenant damage to the knee. He'll come back, when he meets all of his requirements to get released. I do not believe for a minute he is milking it or the organization is holding him back. When he is ready, he'll be back.

Originally posted by AJinUT:
No, he had a major injury, a torn ACL and MCL in his right knee. It can and has taken 6 months to a year and up to two years for a professional athlete to return to pre-injury activity. Brandon is doing exactly what he should be doing and he is following medical and professonial advice from his doctors, PT's and coaches. Returning early just because the team needs him threatens re-injury or permenant damage to the knee. He'll come back, when he meets all of his requirements to get released. I do not believe for a minute he is milking it or the organization is holding him back. When he is ready, he'll be back.

Ran it by our AI overlords, and the results are what I expected--BA's recovery has been unusually long(the guy isn't even practicing yet). Most players who sustained the same injury return to the field within ~11 months.

Here's a list of notable NFL players who suffered both ACL and MCL tears, along with how long it took them to return to play (based on medical reports and return timelines):

🩹 1. Adrian Peterson — RB, Minnesota Vikings (2011) Injury: Torn ACL and MCL (left knee) on Dec 24, 2011

Return: Week 1, 2012 season (≈ 8½ months)

Notes: Historic comeback — 2,097 rushing yards and NFL MVP the next season.

🩹 2. Rob Gronkowski — TE, New England Patriots (2013) Injury: Torn ACL and MCL (right knee) on Dec 8, 2013

Return: Week 1, 2014 season (≈ 9 months)

Notes: Came back strong, posting 1,124 yards and 12 TDs the next year.

🩹 3. Jimmy Garoppolo — QB, San Francisco 49ers (2018) Injury: Torn ACL and MCL (left knee) on Sep 23, 2018

Return: Week 1, 2019 season (≈ 11½ months)

Notes: Played all 16 games in 2019 and led the 49ers to the Super Bowl.

🩹 4. Carson Wentz — QB, Philadelphia Eagles (2017) Injury: Torn ACL and MCL (left knee) on Dec 10, 2017

Return: Week 3, 2018 season (≈ 9 months)

Notes: Missed the first two games of 2018 but returned mid-September.

🩹 5. Odell Beckham Jr. — WR, Los Angeles Rams (Super Bowl LVI, 2022) Injury: Torn ACL and MCL (left knee) on Feb 13, 2022

Return: Signed with Ravens and debuted Sept 2023 (≈ 19 months)

Notes: Took extra time due to prior ACL injury and focus on full recovery.

🩹 6. Nick Chubb — RB, Cleveland Browns (College injury, 2015) (Not NFL at the time, but relevant for comparison)

Injury: Torn ACL, MCL, PCL, and LCL in left knee (Oct 2015 at Georgia)

Return: Sept 2016 (≈ 11 months)

Notes: Returned to form, later becoming a Pro Bowl NFL running back.

✅ Average Return Time (from these cases):
≈ 10.8 months

That aligns with medical expectations for combined ACL + MCL tears — typically 9 to 12 months for NFL athletes depending on the severity and surgical outcome.

Originally posted by Heroism:

Originally posted by AJinUT:
No, he had a major injury, a torn ACL and MCL in his right knee. It can and has taken 6 months to a year and up to two years for a professional athlete to return to pre-injury activity. Brandon is doing exactly what he should be doing and he is following medical and professonial advice from his doctors, PT's and coaches. Returning early just because the team needs him threatens re-injury or permenant damage to the knee. He'll come back, when he meets all of his requirements to get released. I do not believe for a minute he is milking it or the organization is holding him back. When he is ready, he'll be back.

Ran it by our AI overlords, and the results are what I expected--BA's recovery has been unusually long(the guy isn't even practicing yet). Most players who sustained the same injury return to the field within ~11 months.

Here's a list of notable NFL players who suffered both ACL and MCL tears, along with how long it took them to return to play (based on medical reports and return timelines):

🩹 1. Adrian Peterson — RB, Minnesota Vikings (2011) Injury: Torn ACL and MCL (left knee) on Dec 24, 2011

Return: Week 1, 2012 season (≈ 8½ months)

Notes: Historic comeback — 2,097 rushing yards and NFL MVP the next season.

🩹 2. Rob Gronkowski — TE, New England Patriots (2013) Injury: Torn ACL and MCL (right knee) on Dec 8, 2013

Return: Week 1, 2014 season (≈ 9 months)

Notes: Came back strong, posting 1,124 yards and 12 TDs the next year.

🩹 3. Jimmy Garoppolo — QB, San Francisco 49ers (2018) Injury: Torn ACL and MCL (left knee) on Sep 23, 2018

Return: Week 1, 2019 season (≈ 11½ months)

Notes: Played all 16 games in 2019 and led the 49ers to the Super Bowl.

🩹 4. Carson Wentz — QB, Philadelphia Eagles (2017) Injury: Torn ACL and MCL (left knee) on Dec 10, 2017

Return: Week 3, 2018 season (≈ 9 months)

Notes: Missed the first two games of 2018 but returned mid-September.

🩹 5. Odell Beckham Jr. — WR, Los Angeles Rams (Super Bowl LVI, 2022) Injury: Torn ACL and MCL (left knee) on Feb 13, 2022

Return: Signed with Ravens and debuted Sept 2023 (≈ 19 months)

Notes: Took extra time due to prior ACL injury and focus on full recovery.

🩹 6. Nick Chubb — RB, Cleveland Browns (College injury, 2015) (Not NFL at the time, but relevant for comparison)

Injury: Torn ACL, MCL, PCL, and LCL in left knee (Oct 2015 at Georgia)

Return: Sept 2016 (≈ 11 months)

Notes: Returned to form, later becoming a Pro Bowl NFL running back.

✅ Average Return Time (from these cases):
≈ 10.8 months

That aligns with medical expectations for combined ACL + MCL tears — typically 9 to 12 months for NFL athletes depending on the severity and surgical outcome.

Will be full 12 months next week. Unfortunately Ayuik had to have surgery on the MCL as well as the ACL. In many ACL tears the MCL will tear clean but does not need surgical repair. I understand Ayuik MCL tear was not clean and required more extensive repair such that it could add anywhere from 1 to 3 months additional recovery time. I have felt all along he might return after the Bye. 13 months.

Originally posted by Heroism:

Originally posted by AJinUT:
No, he had a major injury, a torn ACL and MCL in his right knee. It can and has taken 6 months to a year and up to two years for a professional athlete to return to pre-injury activity. Brandon is doing exactly what he should be doing and he is following medical and professonial advice from his doctors, PT's and coaches. Returning early just because the team needs him threatens re-injury or permenant damage to the knee. He'll come back, when he meets all of his requirements to get released. I do not believe for a minute he is milking it or the organization is holding him back. When he is ready, he'll be back.

Ran it by our AI overlords, and the results are what I expected--BA's recovery has been unusually long(the guy isn't even practicing yet). Most players who sustained the same injury return to the field within ~11 months.

Here's a list of notable NFL players who suffered both ACL and MCL tears, along with how long it took them to return to play (based on medical reports and return timelines):

🩹 1. Adrian Peterson — RB, Minnesota Vikings (2011) Injury: Torn ACL and MCL (left knee) on Dec 24, 2011

Return: Week 1, 2012 season (≈ 8½ months)

Notes: Historic comeback — 2,097 rushing yards and NFL MVP the next season.

🩹 2. Rob Gronkowski — TE, New England Patriots (2013) Injury: Torn ACL and MCL (right knee) on Dec 8, 2013

Return: Week 1, 2014 season (≈ 9 months)

Notes: Came back strong, posting 1,124 yards and 12 TDs the next year.

🩹 3. Jimmy Garoppolo — QB, San Francisco 49ers (2018) Injury: Torn ACL and MCL (left knee) on Sep 23, 2018

Return: Week 1, 2019 season (≈ 11½ months)

Notes: Played all 16 games in 2019 and led the 49ers to the Super Bowl.

🩹 4. Carson Wentz — QB, Philadelphia Eagles (2017) Injury: Torn ACL and MCL (left knee) on Dec 10, 2017

Return: Week 3, 2018 season (≈ 9 months)

Notes: Missed the first two games of 2018 but returned mid-September.

🩹 5. Odell Beckham Jr. — WR, Los Angeles Rams (Super Bowl LVI, 2022) Injury: Torn ACL and MCL (left knee) on Feb 13, 2022

Return: Signed with Ravens and debuted Sept 2023 (≈ 19 months)

Notes: Took extra time due to prior ACL injury and focus on full recovery.

🩹 6. Nick Chubb — RB, Cleveland Browns (College injury, 2015) (Not NFL at the time, but relevant for comparison)

Injury: Torn ACL, MCL, PCL, and LCL in left knee (Oct 2015 at Georgia)

Return: Sept 2016 (≈ 11 months)

Notes: Returned to form, later becoming a Pro Bowl NFL running back.

✅ Average Return Time (from these cases):
≈ 10.8 months

That aligns with medical expectations for combined ACL + MCL tears — typically 9 to 12 months for NFL athletes depending on the severity and surgical outcome.

What prompt did you use? I ask bc the AI overlords are a slave (until skynet) to your query.

Couldn't have been the minority to think and intrinsically know that Aiyuk's career was done when he went down with that one.

Never had any expectation for him to play or contribute this year or even moving forward.

Originally posted by Heroism:

Originally posted by 49ersRing:
He hasn't hit his "marks" (being able to walk without assistance) yet.

It's pretty wild. I didn't expect BA to help the team much this season, but I fully expected him to at least get back on the field. Was the injury really that bad? We've heard that it involved more than just the ACL, but damn, dude missed more than half the season last year and had the entire offseason to rehab. They're going into week 10 of the 2025 season and are basically signaling that they don't expect BA to play this year.

Part of me still feel like they're going to trade him away, so maybe they're just keeping him bubble wrapped for as long as possible. I don't know. The situation feels off.

The only thing they could trade him for is a bag of Doritos. He's of no value to the team or as a bargaining chip. Non entity until he shows otherwise.

Originally posted by Heroism:
Wow, it really does seem that the ceiling for BA this season is to get a few practices in and call it a season.

Kyle Shanahan on Brandon Aiyuk:

"I'm pretty confident he'll play eventually. I mean at least open up his practice window." pic.twitter.com/rkpo5mkR7Z

— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) November 5, 2025

In the immediate aftermath of the injury it was thought that BA would be out for all of 2025. I don't feel like anything has changed in that regard.

Originally posted by NinerPrideinNJ:
Couldn't have been the minority to think and intrinsically know that Aiyuk's career was done when he went down with that one.

Never had any expectation for him to play or contribute this year or even moving forward.

Tend to agree.

I wonder what his mindset is like through all of this.

He might get injured his first practice with how things are going around here...

This is the first time I've heard that he tore 3 ligaments. That explains the longer timeline. Damn, BA really may be cooked.

Originally posted by Heroism:
This is the first time I've heard that he tore 3 ligaments. That explains the longer timeline. Damn, BA really may be cooked.

John Lynch (KNBR) said the 49ers are getting close to opening Brandon Aiyuk's practice window, reminds just how bad that knee injury was (hence than just-ACL longer recovery timeline):

"That was catastrophic — all 3 ligaments, he did a lot to his knee."

— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) November 6, 2025

no sh*t. That was definitely never publicly mentioned until now.

Originally posted by Heroism:

Originally posted by 49ersRing:
He hasn't hit his "marks" (being able to walk without assistance) yet.

It's pretty wild. I didn't expect BA to help the team much this season, but I fully expected him to at least get back on the field. Was the injury really that bad? We've heard that it involved more than just the ACL, but damn, dude missed more than half the season last year and had the entire offseason to rehab. They're going into week 10 of the 2025 season and are basically signaling that they don't expect BA to play this year.

Part of me still feel like they're going to trade him away, so maybe they're just keeping him bubble wrapped for as long as possible. I don't know. The situation feels off.