49ers WR Enters Training Camp With Murky Outlook

The San Francisco 49ers WR situation feels very uncertain at the moment with Deebo Samuel no longer on the roster, Ricky Pearsall picking up a hamstring injury in the offseason, and Jauan Jennings looking for a new deal entering the 2025 NFL season.

Yet, the injured knee of 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk still looms very large for the organization entering training camp.

49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk Named a Top Situation to Monitor Entering Training Camp

Last year, Brandon Aiyuk was one of the biggest storylines to monitor entering training camp.

This year, Brandon Aiyuk is still one of the biggest storylines to monitor entering training camp. Well, at least ESPN’s Benjamin Solak seems to think so.

Solak wrote, “Against the Chiefs last October, Aiyuk tore both the ACL and MCL in his right knee. That’s a major injury and a tight turnaround for a Week 1 return this season. In May, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on his podcast that he “would think [Aiyuk’s] ready to play by midseason” even with his recovery going well.”

Aiyuk’s status for the season opener is certainly in jeopardy despite his appearances at team offseason workouts.

Solak added, “While Aiyuk was present for minicamp in San Francisco, no reports out of the building indicate any change to that timeline. General manager John Lynch echoed that rehab is going well, but he “wouldn’t put a timeline” on Aiyuk’s return. Coach Kyle Shanahan indicated that Aiyuk would likely start training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list.”

The 49ers don’t have to make a definitive decision on their star wideout for a while, but Solak seems to believe his workload at San Francisco’s training camp could give us a clue about how far along he is in the rehabilitation process.

“We almost certainly will not see Aiyuk in pads running routes and taking hits this summer,” wrote Solak, “but how much work he does on side fields could help predict his availability for that first month of the season — and maybe beyond.

How Does Jauan Jennings Contract Situation Impact Brandon Aiyuk and the 49ers WR Room?

To make matters worse for the 49ers, reports indicated that Jauan Jennings is seeking a new deal ahead of the upcoming 2025 NFL season.

This puts the Niners in a tough spot given Aiyuk is far from a certainty to start the year, but fortunately the team doesn’t have to make a decision for his Week 1 status until the team finalizes the active roster.

Solak detailed, “Critically, inclusion on the PUP list during training camp does not force Aiyuk to miss any regular-season games. If he remains on that list after the 53-man roster cut deadline in late August, then he’ll be required to miss at least the first four games of the season.”

Jennings had a breakout year once Aiyuk suffered his season-ending injury, which saw him produce 77 receptions for 975 yards and six scores. The organization was likely depending on Jennings to give the 49ers proven production at the WR position whether Aiyuk was ready for the season opener or not, but his potential holdout or trade could put the 49ers in a very tough spot.

Aiyuk’s health and Jennings contract situation feel like two situations that could make or break the 49ers WR room in 2025.