Brandon Aiyuk hasn't made much noise of late, and with good reason. Whether the Washington Commanders' signing of veteran wide receiver Stefon Diggs had something to do with that is anyone's guess, but he's a hard guy to work out.
Aiyuk was back on Instagram this week. And unsurprisingly, he was still wearing Washington apparel.
This has been a theme of Aiyuk's desperate posts throughout the offseason. The San Francisco 49ers wideout was convinced he would reunite with quarterback Jayden Daniels at some stage. That hasn't happened, but the latest not-so-subtle sign affirms that the wideout has not yet given up hope about landing in D.C.
Brandon Aiyuk keeps sending desperate Commanders signals to no avail
But after everything that's gone down this offseason, perhaps he should.
Aiyuk handled his situation horribly. The Niners are not without blame, either. But airing out his frustrations on social media, taking shots at almost everyone along the way, was ill-advised.
It also did not go unnoticed.
It is September 2nd and Brandon Aiyuk is still rocking burgundy and gold, just without the #Commanders name or logo... 😂
— SleeperCommanders (@SleeperWSH) September 2, 2026
🎥: brandonaiyuk on IG | #RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/ezqnhqeFwH
And when his shade was directed at Daniels — one of the very few who would have fought his corner — that was the final straw for those Commanders fans who wanted him in Washington.
The Commanders never showed an interest in Aiyuk. They may have been interested in exploring the possibility once upon a time, but that ship has now sailed.
He's technically still under contract with San Francisco, and any speculation linking him to Washington didn't have much substance attached. General manager Adam Peters hinted that Aiyuk's social media activity was a reason, and that Diggs had always been their preferred option.
Brandon Aiyuk's potential path to the Commanders has come and gone
Aiyuk has not even applied for reinstatement, so everything else is moot until then. And once the league gets going, it may not be much longer before the NFL completely forgets about him.
That would be a sad end to Aiyuk's once-promising career.
Superstardom beckoned after a second-team All-Pro campaign in 2023. Aiyuk got a big-money deal from the Niners, but things unraveled quickly. The Arizona State product suffered a serious knee injury, and his relationship with key figures in the organization disintegrated.
No trade suitor came forward. Interest dwindled. The Commanders were arguably his last lifeline, hence the constant come-and-get-me pleas on social media. They were not reciprocated.
And now, his actions have descended into a pity party for one.
The Commanders have other things on their mind right now.
They are gearing up for a crucial Week 1 clash against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field, which is the opening of a tough stretch to begin the 2026 campaign. Getting off to a fast start is crucial because the pressure on head coach Dan Quinn will only build if no momentum is generated.
How the Commanders will cope is the big question nobody knows the answer to right now. But either way, they are probably better off without Aiyuk.
And at this point in proceedings, it would be very surprising if Aiyuk ever found his way back onto an NFL field.
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