Aiyuk presses for release, but 49ers stay firm amid cap strategy and legal clouds

Brandon Aiyuk has publicly pressed the 49ers to release him, but San Francisco is holding firm, leveraging his Left Squad status to keep him on the payroll and preserve cap relief. Aiyuk's social posts, plus a misdemeanor arrest warrant for street racing, complicate any potential return, and rumors of a move to the Washington Commanders persist without concrete interest. A September 1 option worth $24.9 million could force a release if he doesn’t report and pass a physical, but with the team unlikely to bring him back and training camp still ahead, the standoff appears likely to continue.