Speaking on his show, The Adam Schefter Podcast, Schefty said of Aiyuk’s recovery, “From what I understand, Dr. Neal ElAttrache is pleased with his progress. He’s coming along. I think he’s ready to play by midseason.” It’s a longer recovery than we may have expected for Aiyuk, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in last season’s Week 7 game against the Chiefs. However, it’s worth remembering that Aiyuk’s knee injury included a torn ACL and MCL, likely adding to his recovery timeline. Aiyuk has been the subject of potential trade rumors this offseason, but things don’t appear to be much more than surface-level rumors at this point. The sixth-year vet signed a four-year, $120 million extension with the Niners last offseason, but his deal, coupled with his injury, makes him unlikely to be traded even if available. If midway through the 2025 season ends up being his targeted return date, it’s hard to imagine other teams wanting to acquire him until they can see how he looks once he’s on the field.