Brandon Aiyuk Injury Update: When Will WR Be Back and Return to 49ers?

We are now over two months into the NFL season and the San Francisco 49ers are still without star WR Brandon Aiyuk. Niners fans and fantasy football owners are currently wondering when Aiyuk will return and be back on the field. Below, we will deliver an Aiyuk injury update and also look at his fantasy stock moving forward. We will also take a glance at 49ers betting odds.

🩹 When will Brandon Aiyuk return and be back with 49ers?

There is a good reason for the delay in Aiyuk returning to the playing field. Aiyuk suffered a catastrophic injury in October 2024, as he suffered a torn ACL, a torn MCL, and a meniscus injury. This type of knee injury is known as an "unhappy triad."

Recovery from an unhappy triad can take up to six-to-nine months. A return to a high-impact sport like football can take up to over a year to recover from.

The 49ers have not yet opened Aiyuk’s 21-day practice window, so his return is not imminent.

San Francisco brass does believe he will play this season, however.

Here is a look at the 49ers schedule around the time we project that Aiyuk will return.

• Week 15 Sunday, Dec. 14: Tennessee Titans at San Francisco 49ers
• Week 16 Monday, Dec. 22: San Francisco 49ers at Indianapolis Colts
• Week 17 Sunday, Dec. 28: Chicago Bears at San Francisco 49ers

It is important to note that the 49ers’ bye week occurs in Week 14 of the season. It is unlikely that the Niners would bring Aiyuk back before then, so a mid-December return looks to be the most likely time for the WR to be back with the club.

⏳ How long will Brandon Aiyuk be out for?

Aiyuk suffered the massive knee injury of Oct. 20 of last year. He has now been out for 394 days.

49ers GM John Lynch appeared on KNBR 680’s “Murph and Markus” on Nov. 13 and was asked if Aiyuk might take a “redshirt year” for the 2025-26 season.

“That’s not the intention, the intention is to get Brandon back,” Lynch said. “We’re not there yet, and so we’ll continue to have him excel at his rehab and we just gotta get him to a place where we’re comfortable opening that window and then see if he can make it back on the field.”

Lynch did add that there are “no absolutes” when it comes to Aiyuk’s injury status, so the possibility of the WR missing the entire season does remain.

🏈 Brandon Aiyuk fantasy football stock

Aiyuk is currently still owned in 36 percent of Yahoo! fantasy football leagues. Those owners are obviously still holding out hope that Aiyuk can contribute this season. 

Aiyuk likely won’t return until Week 15 at the earliest, and that coincides with the beginning of most league’s fantasy playoffs. 

If Aiyuk does return this season, it may also take a few weeks for him to even come close to regaining his previous production. The Arizona State product produced back-to-back 1,000+ receiving yard seasons before going down with his injury midway through last season.

⛏️ 49ers betting odds

The 49ers have dealt with a rash of injuries this season, but are still a strong playoff contender in the NFC as they sit with a 7-4 record. 

San Francisco Super Bowl odds currently stand at +3500 at the best NFL betting sites. Their win total projection is 10.5, with juice on the Over.

The Niners are +750 to win the NFC West.