Aiyuk reinstated by NFL; 49ers have two-game roster exemption for WR

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  Nick WagonerNov 9, 2026, 05:14 PM ET

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  Nick Wagoner is an NFL reporter at ESPN. Nick has covered the San Francisco 49ers since 2016, having previously covered the St. Louis Rams for 12 years, including three years (2013 to 2015) at ESPN. In over a decade with the company, Nick has led ESPN's coverage of the Niners' 2019 and 2023 Super Bowl run, Colin Kaepernick's protest, the Rams making Michael Sam the first openly gay player drafted to the NFL, Sam's subsequent pursuit of a roster spot and the team's relocation and stadium saga.

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- The NFL reinstated San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk on Monday after he reported for a physical, according to the league's transaction wire.

The wire also states that the Niners have received a two-game roster exemption to sort through any remaining business with Aiyuk. That exemption expires on Monday, November 23 after San Francisco's Week 11 game against the Minnesota Vikings in Mexico City.

Aiyuk has been on the Niners' reserve/left squad list since December, but he took steps toward reinstatement in recent weeks, hiring agent Drew Rosenhaus and filing the reinstatement paperwork in late October.

Then, finally, Aiyuk and Rosenhaus met with the Niners at the team's business offices on Friday. That meeting lasted about 75 minutes with Rosenhaus saying it was "to be continued" on the way out.

In a brief statement to reporters on the way into the meeting, Aiyuk gave a brief update on his health status and motivation.

"I'm feeling great, feeling healthy," Aiyuk said. "It was a long recovery process, a long rehab process, but I'm back to 100% and looking to get reinstated to the National Football League."

Now that Aiyuk, who tore the ACL, MCL and meniscus in his right knee on Oct. 20, 2024, has accomplished the latter, the 49ers must decide what to do with him.

San Francisco has three options. It could release Aiyuk, the scenario that has remained the most plausible throughout the offseason. The Niners could trade Aiyuk, which has long been their preferred option, but they haven't found a trade partner and the deadline for a deal is Tuesday afternoon at 4 p.m. ET.

Finally, the 49ers could keep Aiyuk and put him on the 53-man roster, though that ship seemed to sail long ago with coach Kyle Shanahan indicating as much on Friday afternoon.

Asked what he would like to see happen in the meeting between the team and Aiyuk, Shanahan said he couldn't "care less."

"It's been over for our football team for a long time," Shanahan said. "So, I don't hear much except questions about him."