The San Francisco 49ers beat the Miami Dolphins 35-13 on Sunday and still left Levi’s Stadium looking thin at wide receiver.
Injuries have stacked up since training camp. Ricky Pearsall is done for the season after knee surgery. Christian Kirk has been on injured reserve since the first day of camp and is not eligible to return until Week 5. Rookie De’Zhaun Stribling went down in Week 1 and is expected to miss about 10 weeks with an ankle injury.
Week 2 added more damage. Demarcus Robinson left with a high ankle sprain that could keep him out for an extended stretch. Mike Evans departed with a hip issue in the second half. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said the hip did not look serious and that Evans could have returned if the game had been closer.
By the end of the afternoon, San Francisco was down to three healthy, active wide receivers: Deebo Samuel, Jacob Cowing and KhaDarel Hodge. Tight end Jake Tonges also remains out after a Week 1 injury.
That shortage prompted the obvious question after the game. Would the 49ers consider bringing back Brandon Aiyuk?Shanahan’s answer was one word: “No.”
Aiyuk has not played since tearing his ACL, MCL and meniscus against the Kansas City Chiefs in October 2024. The 49ers placed him on the reserve/left squad list on Dec. 13, 2025. He has not applied for NFL reinstatement.
San Francisco voided $27 million in 2026 guarantees after Aiyuk missed required rehab sessions. General manager John Lynch said in August that nothing had changed and that Aiyuk is “just not on our roster.” Aiyuk said this summer he will not reinstate with the 49ers or do further business with them.
The team still holds his rights through 2028, but he is not on the payroll and does not count against the active roster. Lynch said in January that Aiyuk had likely played his last snap with the franchise.
Talk-show host Rich Eisen argued Sunday that the 49ers should still consider him given the production they have lost.
“It would be nice if the Niners could have Aiyuk as an option rather than the head coach going, ‘We have some people around here who have done some things for us,’” Eisen said.
“Like, that’s a better option than Brandon Aiyuk? We got some people who can fog up a mirror because they’ve done some things for us around here. We know them. They know us. We know them. We’ll get them off the practice squad or on a practice squad. That’s better than Brandon Aiyuk?”
Eisen did not excuse Aiyuk’s role in the split.
“Something’s going to happen where your bosses piss you off,” Eisen said. “Something’s going to happen at work where you feel disrespected. Whether it’s money, time, effort, an assignment, or whatever, it’s going to happen. What you cannot do is tell the bosses, ‘F you,’ and stick it.
“Now, if you’ve got gajillions in the bank, I guess you can. Maybe it’ll make you feel good because if Brandon Aiyuk didn’t do any of that, he would either be on another team right now or the Niners would be calling him on speed dial.”
Shanahan said the 49ers will likely need to add a receiver, either to the 53-man roster or the practice squad. He did not name candidates.
Evans finished Sunday with three catches for 54 yards before leaving. Robinson’s status is the more immediate concern. Shanahan said more information should be available by Wednesday.
Aiyuk last posted meaningful production in 2023, when he topped 1,000 receiving yards for the second straight season before signing a four-year, $120 million extension. His 2024 season ended after seven games and 25 catches for 364 yards.
The 49ers now head into Week 3 with a depleted receiver group, a blunt rejection of a reunion with Aiyuk, and a need to find help from the waiver wire, practice squad or existing roster.
