San Francisco 49ers Place Star Wide Receiver Brandon Aiyuk on Physically Unable to Perform List Before 2025 Training Camp Opens

The San Francisco 49ers have placed standout wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list just days before the official opening of their 2025 training camp. The move has sparked immediate concern among fans and analysts as Aiyuk remains embroiled in contract negotiations with the team, and questions are mounting regarding his availability for the start of the season.

The 49ers announced the roster move Friday morning, with the PUP designation indicating that Aiyuk is currently unable to participate in football activities due to injury. However, the team declined to specify the exact nature of the injury, and whether it is related to any prior issues or is more precautionary in nature. While players can be removed from the preseason PUP list at any time, the timing of the move — combined with Aiyuk’s unresolved contract situation — adds layers of intrigue.

Aiyuk has not been a full participant in any of the team’s offseason voluntary workouts, and he also skipped mandatory minicamp in June. The 2020 first-round pick is entering the final year of his rookie contract, and while the 49ers exercised his fifth-year option, he and his camp have made it clear that they are seeking a long-term extension worthy of his elite-level production.

In four seasons with the 49ers, Aiyuk has emerged as one of the league’s most consistent and dynamic wide receivers. In 2024, he posted a career-high 1,498 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns on 87 catches, cementing his status as a critical component of Kyle Shanahan’s offense and a reliable weapon for quarterback Brock Purdy. His chemistry with Purdy helped unlock the full potential of the 49ers’ passing attack, and Aiyuk played a key role in San Francisco’s run to the NFC Championship Game.

But this offseason has been filled with uncertainty regarding his future with the franchise. Aiyuk made headlines earlier this summer with cryptic social media posts suggesting frustration with the pace of contract talks. His absence from minicamp — a move that subjected him to fines — was seen as a sign that negotiations had stalled. Reports from NFL insiders have indicated that while the 49ers value Aiyuk and want him long-term, the sides remain apart on guaranteed money and overall valuation.

The PUP designation doesn’t necessarily mean a severe injury or that Aiyuk will miss time once the regular season begins, but it does prevent him from practicing with the team until he is medically cleared. It also provides the 49ers with roster flexibility while they evaluate the status of several other players returning from injuries.

The 49ers are also dealing with uncertainty around second-year receiver Ricky Pearsall, their 2024 first-round draft pick out of Florida, who was also placed on the PUP list alongside Aiyuk. Pearsall has drawn praise from coaches and teammates during OTAs, but his status for the start of training camp is now in doubt as well.

With both Aiyuk and Pearsall sidelined for the start of camp, the spotlight shifts to other wideouts on the 49ers roster. Deebo Samuel remains a centerpiece of the offense, but after him, the depth chart becomes more fluid. Veteran Jauan Jennings, who signed a two-year deal in the offseason, will likely take on a bigger role. Jennings is known for his physicality and clutch play on third downs, but he lacks the vertical explosiveness that Aiyuk brings.

Second-year receiver Ronnie Bell, a 2023 seventh-round pick, could be an under-the-radar beneficiary of the situation. Bell showed flashes of playmaking ability in limited opportunities last season and will have a chance to earn more reps with the first team during camp. Additionally, veterans like Chris Conley and Trent Taylor could see increased targets in practice, while undrafted rookies and practice squad holdovers compete for roster spots in a suddenly wide-open competition.

The Aiyuk situation draws eerie parallels to past 49ers contract sagas, including Deebo Samuel’s hold-in in 2022. Samuel eventually signed a three-year, $71.5 million extension shortly before training camp. Aiyuk’s camp is reportedly seeking a deal that would place him in the same financial tier as top receivers like Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jaylen Waddle, and DeVonta Smith — all of whom recently signed extensions in the $25–30 million per year range.

Team general manager John Lynch has remained cautiously optimistic in public comments, telling reporters in June that talks with Aiyuk were “ongoing” and “productive.” But there has been no public indication of a breakthrough, and the PUP listing only fuels speculation that the standoff could extend into the preseason — or longer.

“This is business,” Shanahan said when asked about the ongoing situation during minicamp. “We love Brandon. He knows what he means to this team, and we’re working to find a solution. These things take time.”

In the meantime, the 49ers will forge ahead with camp preparations without one of their most important players. Their offense, which ranked among the NFL’s best in 2024, leans heavily on timing and rhythm — two elements that can be disrupted by prolonged absences, especially from key contributors like Aiyuk.

For Aiyuk, the PUP designation could also serve as a form of leverage. If he is dealing with even a minor ailment, it allows him to remain engaged with the team while continuing to press for a new contract. Unlike a full holdout, being on the PUP list shields him from daily fines while sidelining him from on-field work. That may prove to be a calculated move by his representatives to maintain negotiating pressure without creating additional tension.

Still, both sides risk losing valuable time together as they prepare for a season in which the 49ers have legitimate Super Bowl aspirations. Brock Purdy enters his third year with heightened expectations, and continuity with his top targets is essential for sustained success. Without Aiyuk on the field, those reps — and that chemistry — suffer.

The 49ers also face a salary cap crunch heading into 2026, with several core players under big-money deals, including Christian McCaffrey, Trent Williams, Fred Warner, and Nick Bosa. Locking down Aiyuk long-term could necessitate difficult choices elsewhere, and that financial puzzle may be contributing to the current gridlock.

There’s also the looming question of whether the 49ers might explore trade options if a deal doesn’t materialize. While there have been no confirmed reports of Aiyuk being shopped, the NFL is no stranger to star receivers switching teams amid contract disputes — a reality that has played out in recent years with players like A.J. Brown, Stefon Diggs, and Tyreek Hill.

For now, the 49ers are sending the message that they expect Aiyuk to be a part of their 2025 plans, and that the PUP list is not cause for panic. But the clock is ticking. Training camp is a critical time for building cohesion and laying the groundwork for a championship push. Every day Aiyuk spends on the sideline adds to the pressure on the front office to resolve the impasse.

Fans and media alike will be watching closely as camp unfolds in Santa Clara. Will Aiyuk return to practice within days, signaling that his absence was precautionary? Or will the standoff intensify, casting a shadow over the start of what could be a defining season for the 49ers?

Until there’s clarity, uncertainty reigns. And in the high-stakes world of NFL roster management, that can be just as disruptive as any injury.