What happened: Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk turned in paperwork to be reinstated and plans to report to the San Francisco 49ers training facility on Friday afternoon. Aiyuk was placed on the team Reserve/Left Squad list before the season and has not appeared in an NFL contest since October 2024. The 49ers now must decide how quickly to integrate their former first-round selection into game action.

Why it matters: Assuming Aiyuk will quickly rediscover his peak form ignores how difficult returning from an extended absence is in a timing-dependent offense. During last season (2024) with the 49ers, he posted 25 receptions for 374 yards across 7 games before stepping away from the field. Relying on him to command high-volume separation and absorb starter snaps immediately is an unrealistic expectation for San Francisco.