The Niners officially placed Aiyuk on the NFL’s reserve list on Saturday, with a “left squad” designation. It’s an incredibly rare roster move —- so much so that OverTheCap, a website all about tracking the minutiae of NFL salary machinations, doesn’t even keep track of it. “Left squad” usually indicates a player quit on the team.

It's clear the 49ers are relying on Pearsall to become Aiyuk's successor in the receiving corps — this season and in the future.

It has been nearly 14 months since the Pro Bowler last appeared in a game for the Niners. His 2024 season ended prematurely with the torn ACL, but he was expected to come back this season and provide the downfield threat that earned him his four-year, $120 million contract, which was acquired in its own contentious process.