49ers say WR Brandon Aiyuk (knee) 'not close' to return

Field Level Media|published: Thu 25th September, 13:17 2025

NFL: Kansas City Chiefs at San Francisco 49ers

Oct 20, 2024; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (11) walks on the field before the start of the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk is "not close" to returning from the physically unable to perform list, general manager John Lynch said Thursday.

The club originally had targeted a Week 6 return for the 27-year-old veteran, who still is rehabbing a torn right ACL sustained last October.

Lynch said there have been no setbacks, explaining it is taking longer than expected because his tear wasn't "clean" and there was other damage in the knee.

Aiyuk posted 25 receptions for 374 yards and no touchdowns over seven games last season after developing into a star over the previous two campaigns.

He caught a career-high 78 passes for 1,015 yards and a career-best eight TDs in 2022, and hauled in 75 catches for a career-high 1,342 yards in 2023.

Drafted in the first round (25th overall) in 2020, Aiyuk has recorded 294 receptions for 4,305 yards and 25 TDs in 69 games (67 starts) with the 49ers.

--Field Level Media

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