49ers GM John Lynch sounds pessimistic about Brandon Aiyuk's return

The San Francisco 49ers have been without wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk for the first 13 weeks of their 2025 campaign, as the 27-year-old recovers from a torn ACL and MCL that he suffered in Week 7 last year.

If Aiyuk returned and was the player he was before the injury, he could take this offense to another level, but speaking on KNBR on Tuesday, 49ers general manager John Lynch doesn't seem optimistic about the chances that Aiyuk suits up for San Francisco before the end of the season.

“[Is it] realistic? I'm not sure," Lynch said. "[Am I] hopeful? Yeah. I think that's where I'd leave that. We're a better football team when Brandon's out there, but that's probably what it is, hope right now."

Aiyuk received a four-year, $120 million extension last year and caught 25 passes for 364 yards before the injury. He had his contract guarantees voided over the offseason for failure to comply with the team's rehab plan.

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This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: 49ers GM John Lynch sounds pessimistic about Brandon Aiyuk's return