Head coach Kyle Shanahan has already confirmed that Aiyuk won't be ready for the start of training camp, which begins for veterans on July 22. While the chances of the star receiver suiting up for the Week 1 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks on September 7 appear slim, one 49ers insider says the possibility isn't being completely dismissed.
"I hear he's doing really well," NBC Sports Bay Area's Matt Maiocco said Thursday during an interview on KNBR. "I hear that the knee is even ahead of schedule."
That aligns with what general manager John Lynch has said throughout the offseason, often noting that elite athletes like Aiyuk tend to recover more quickly than expected.
"From what I understand, he's doing really well," Maiocco reiterated. "Also, from what I understand, is it's not out of the question that he could be ready Week 1."
Still, Maiocco believes the 49ers will take a conservative approach given the severity of Aiyuk's knee injury, making a delayed season debut more likely.
"They want to be extra cautious with him," Maiocco explained. "Even though the timeline, everything being equal, might point toward, hey, there's a chance Week 1, and there still might be a chance Week 1, I think the feeling inside the organization has always been don't take any chances, start him off on PUP when they report to training camp on July 22, and then more than likely, just have that carry over into the regular season."
While Aiyuk remains likely to miss at least the first four games of the season, the positive updates are encouraging for fans worried that the team could be without one of its top offensive weapons for an extended period.
"And then, it's quite possible that he could be ready Week 5 or Week 6, getting up to speed quickly," Maiocco added. "But everything I'm hearing is that things are looking good, and that the progress is even ahead of where the markers were that the 49ers put on him when he had that surgery."
Of course, returning to the field is only the first step. The bigger question is how long it will take Aiyuk to return to form and regain his pre-injury impact after such a serious setback.
You can listen to the entire Maiocco interview below.
Related News
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
49ers training camp set to deliver harsh reality to attention-seeking Brandon Aiyuk
Brandon Aiyuk has spent much of the offseason making sure people know exactly how he feels. The current (and soon-to-be former) San Francisco 49ers wide receiver has used social media videos and posts to air his frustrations, take shots at the organization, make his feelings... -
George Kittle praises 49ers' handling of Brandon Aiyuk situation
San Francisco 49ers veterans aren't required to report to training camp until Saturday, but tight end George Kittle arrived early to begin preparing for the 2026 season. Players recovering from injury (Kittle is coming off a torn Achilles) typically arrive early. The biggest... -
49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk appears to take shot at Kyle Shanahan after car accident
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan accepted responsibility Tuesday for the car accident that left him with a broken nose, three broken ribs, a broken hand, a severe concussion, and facial injuries requiring 40 stitches. Shanahan explained that the initial police... -
49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk makes bold $10 million statement
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk doesn't appear fazed by the growing skepticism surrounding his NFL future. Although he has made it clear he wants to leave San Francisco, the veteran remains tied to the 49ers after refusing to take the necessary steps to...