The 49ers’ contract situation with wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk is complicated.
That is why quarterback Brock Purdy didn’t want to comment too much on the new developments surrounding his teammate when asked about it Tuesday on KNBR’s “Murph and Markus.” But even Purdy couldn’t ignore the obvious fact that the situation is unfortunate.
“Yeah, I mean, he’s going through his thing and I can’t really speak to it much just because it’s his situation and him healing up from his knee injury and all the contract stuff,” Purdy said. “I’m totally out of that. That has nothing really to do with me, so I can’t really speak to that. I just think it does suck because I love B.A. and all the moments we’ve had on the field together have been awesome. I love playing football with him.
“It sucks right now, it’s sort of all grey and we don’t really know what’s going on. But he’s doing his thing. I know he’s rehabbing and trying to get back, so that’s all I can really say.”
The 49ers voided the remaining guaranteed money in Aiyuk’s contract early in training camp due to his failure to live up to the terms of his contract. Lynch told NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco on “49ers Game Plan” that he felt like Aiyuk gave the 49ers no choice after not adhering to team policies.
“There are basic rules, team rules, league rules,” Lynch told Maiocco. “I can tell you as a team, we don’t have many (rules). The ones we do are very important to us, and when they’re not adhered to — this is the first time it’s happened in our tenure — we felt like we had no other recourse as to exercise those things.”
The 2026 option bonus of $24.935 million was subject to being voided if Aiyuk failed to report on time or be an active participant in any meetings or activities when instructed by the team, according to the contract, which NBC Sports Bay Area obtained through a league source.
Aiyuk sustained a severe knee injury in Week 7 of the 2024 NFL season against the Kansas City Chiefs. He underwent surgery in mid-November. More than one year later, Aiyuk remains on the physically unable to perform list, and it’s unclear when or if the receiver will play at all this season.
Purdy and the 49ers are rolling despite injuries and adversity, having won their last three consecutive contests heading into their bye week with a 9-4 record, but Purdy would love to have Aiyuk alongside him as San Francisco aims to keep its playoff hopes alive.
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