The rift between the San Francisco 49ers and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk appears significant, with the receiver recently taking multiple public shots at the organization. The 49ers have already voided a portion of the guaranteed money in the four-year, $120 million contract extension Aiyuk signed before the 2024 season—a deal the team undoubtedly regrets agreeing to.

Aiyuk could be at risk of losing even more money once training camp begins in late July.


It came as no surprise that the receiver was absent from San Francisco's voluntary offseason program. The 49ers also canceled their scheduled mandatory minicamp this week, eliminating another potential point of contention between the two sides.

Training camp, however, is a different story.

According to ESPN's Nick Wagoner, the 49ers could impose substantial fines on Aiyuk, who ended last season on the reserve/left squad list after cutting off communication with the team.

For now, Aiyuk does not count against the 90-man roster, giving the 49ers little urgency to trade or release him—the latter remaining the more likely outcome. Once training camp arrives, though, the financial consequences of staying away could become significant.

"If Aiyuk does not report when the Niners open training camp in late July, he would revert to the reserve/did not report list, which would trigger fines of up to $50,000 per day," Wagoner reported.


Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk believes reporting to training camp is in Aiyuk's best interest. In fact, Florio argues that the wide receiver should have taken that approach earlier in the offseason.

"He should have shown up on the first day of the offseason program," Florio said on The Rich Eisen Show. "'Here I am. Deal with me. Put me on the practice field. Assume the risk that if I pop my Achilles, you're going to owe me $26 million.' He could have brought this to a head by showing up and forcing the 49ers to do something."

Florio believes the ideal scenario for the 49ers is for Aiyuk to continue staying away. Additionally, it would keep him off the roster of a potential competitor as clubs prepare for the 2026 season.

"He should have been there for the offseason program," Florio continued. "He needs to be there for training camp. And I think when he shows up, if he shows up for training camp, that's when the 49ers have a decision to make."

If Aiyuk has fully recovered from the ACL and MCL injuries he suffered in 2024, Florio notes that the 49ers cannot prevent him from reporting or participating in football activities, as he is under contract.


"The 49ers have to assume the risk of allowing him to practice, and if he gets a season-ending injury, they owe him every penny of the $26 million," Florio added. "His leverage is to show up. Their leverage is to do nothing and hope he doesn't show up.

"He should have already been there. He needs to be there at the start of training camp. That's the quickest path to ending up in Washington or wherever he wants to go."



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