SerpApi.Org
As of the morning of July 21, whispers about different teams possibly having any interest in current San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk had all but disappeared.
During a Monday appearance on "The Jim Rome Show," former 49ers safety Donte Whitner shared quite a gloomy outlook regarding Aiyuk's future as an NFL player.
Donte Whitner: Brandon Aiyuk has played his last down in the NFL
"I truly believe he’s played his last down in the NFL," Whitner said about Aiyuk, per Eduardo Razo of Heavy. "...A lot of these owners will collude. They’re friends. They’re business partners. And if you disrespect one organization, do you think they’re not on the phone telling other owners not to bring you into their organization? He’s a fool if he doesn’t think that. So, in my opinion, I think Brandon Aiyuk has played his last down in the NFL."
Aiyuk hasn't played in an NFL game since he went down with a serious knee injury in October 2024. The 49ers later voided the remaining guaranteed money attached to his contract because he didn't participate in rehab sessions related to that setback, and he ended last season on the reserve/left squad list.
Back in December 2025, Aiyuk posted a video to his YouTube page showing him driving over 100 mph in what Nick Wagoner of ESPN said was a 40-mph zone. More recently, Aiyuk has raised eyebrows and sparked concerns due to comments he has made in videos shared via social media over the past several months.
Last week, ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter reported that other teams were questioning whether Aiyuk truly wants to play for any club later this year.
How Brandon Aiyuk could have sent a message to interested teams
"All you have to do is show up and do what’s asked of you, and you receive almost your entire contract, even if you never touch the football field again," Whitner added while speaking about the Aiyuk situation. "Then, when you feel like everybody’s against you, it just perpetuates it. I thought he should have just kept his mouth shut. He should have worked out. He should have shown up, even if he had disdain for the front office, the players, and the coaches. You know how normal guys handle that? They ask for a trade behind the scenes and still show up and do what’s asked of them. He did none of that. He went ghost."
Aiyuk can apply to the NFL for reinstatement from the reserve/did not report list. The 49ers will likely release him once he is reinstated, but it was unknown as of Tuesday morning if Aiyuk had submitted the necessary paperwork to force San Francisco's hand.
Want more articles like this? Follow Yardbarker on MSN to see more of our exclusive NFL content.
More must-reads:
