The San Francisco 49ers are nearing the point where they’ll get one of their stars back.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan on Friday told reporters wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk is making progress toward a return that could come as soon as the team’s Week 9 matchup against the New York Giants.
Shanahan classified Aiyuk’s status as “week-to-week” and left the door open for the possibility that Aiyuk’s 21-day practice window could be opened in the lead up to Week 9.
Aiyuk has been on the PUP list since training camp after suffering ACL and MCL tears with additional damage against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 7 last season. If the 49ers open his window they’ll have 21 days to decide whether to activate him or put him on season-ending IR. Given the nature of his injury they may be cautious with hurrying him back and utilizing more of his 21-day practice window than they typically do.
To this point the 49ers have been mum on a timeline for his return. Shanahan offered Week 6 as a potential target date early in the season, but he also left open the possibility that his return may be closer to Week 10. The timing of Friday’s update is in line with that projection.
It would provide a significant lift for the 49ers receiving corps if Aiyuk did come back in the next couple of weeks. They’ve been without Ricky Pearsall while he works through a knee injury, and Jauan Jennings is playing through a litany of ailments. Getting Aiyuk back in the next couple of weeks leaves plenty of runway for him to get his sea legs under him again in time for a possible playoff run by the 49ers.
Aiyuk isn’t liable to be 100 percent this season after recovering from a major injury and not playing football for more than a year. However, he’s an extremely talented player who earned a Second-Team All-Pro nod in 2022 when he had a career-high 1,342 receiving yards on 75 catches with seven touchdowns. Any version of him would be a bonus for the 49ers’ offense which needs to get healthier if they’re going to be any kind of threat come January. Aiyuk’s return would be a massive step in that direction.
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