San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch joined The TK Show with Tim Kawakami and discussed the futures of two key players—Brandon Aiyuk and Mac Jones.
Recent reporting revealed that the 49ers voided Aiyuk’s guaranteed money for 2026, a move many viewed as signaling an eventual split. Another report noted that Aiyuk frustrated the organization by missing offseason rehab appointments.
The wide receiver is still recovering from the ACL and MCL injuries he suffered last season and has yet to return to the practice field. With his recovery timeline unclear, it appears increasingly unlikely that Aiyuk will play this season, fueling speculation that he may have already taken his last snap for San Francisco.
“Some of the other things that happen on the side, that hadn’t been fun, but you go through that with players,” Lynch said. “I think, like I’ve talked about throughout this thing, that story’s not written yet, and Brandon’s still working to try to come back from his injury. And hopefully, his story’s not done with the Niners, and there’s still a great ending to it.
“You never like to see a player go through that, and he’s going through it right now, and we just were eager for the time where he can return, and hopefully, contribute in a big way.”
Lynch emphasized that the 49ers have maintained ongoing communication with Aiyuk throughout his rehab.
“Throughout the process, there’s been a lot of communication,” Lynch added. “We do with all our players, and when you make a commitment to a player like that, your hopes are everything goes smooth, and all that. That’s not always the case, and so there’s been some bumps in the road.
“But like I said, hopeful that we can get him back on the field. As I’ve always said, we’re a better team when he’s out there.”
Will the 49ers trade Mac Jones?
Mac Jones stepped in for quarterback Brock Purdy for much of the season while Purdy managed a turf toe injury. Jones delivered strong play and revitalized his career in head coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense. His performance has sparked speculation that other NFL teams may inquire about his availability during the offseason.
Jones is under contract through 2026 after signing a two-year deal with the 49ers in March. While Lynch didn’t rule anything out, he made it clear that San Francisco believes in the strength and depth of its quarterback room.
“We could always do something,” Lynch admitted, “but I think that’s a position—nobody exhibited this more than the great Bill Walsh—is that the more quality players you have in that room, that sets you up for success. And I think you’ve got to keep your eyes and ears open to everything.
“But we obviously believe greatly in Brock Purdy, and Brock earned that trust from us. Mac earned a lot of trust this year with the way he played, so we’re excited about that room. We’re going to just keep focusing on this season. We’ll figure out everything as it goes.”
Lynch praised the 49ers’ coaching staff for helping quarterbacks trust their instincts and push their limits. That was apparent with Sam Darnold, who spent one season with San Francisco before breaking out with the Minnesota Vikings and earning a nice payday from the Seattle Seahawks.
“He’s a tremendous teammate,” Lynch said of Jones. “He’s got a quirky personality. You see it with his suits. But just his interactions with his team. That quarterback room is really fun with Adrian Martinez, [Kurtis] Rourke, and those guys. They have a great time in there, but they get a lot done, and it’s a really good room.”