Well, that was fast. Brandon Aiyuk’s No. 11 jersey is officially off the market for the San Francisco 49ers, with Demarcus Robinson snatching it up for the 2026 regular season after Aiyuk deserted the team. This move tells you everything about where things stand with Aiyuk, who’s been placed on the reserve/left squad list and isn’t even assigned a number anymore. Talk about a statement heading into the new season.
New Threads for the Rookie Crew
It’s not just Aiyuk’s old number getting a new owner, either. The 49ers are rolling out the red carpet for a few players wearing fresh digits for their 2026 regular season debut. We’re talking three wide receivers who are all rocking numbers they didn’t even have during the preseason, according to The Athletic’s Matt Barrows. First up, Jacob Cowing, who switched from No. 6 to No. 4. That No. 4 was last worn by quarterback Adrian Martinez in the preseason, so it’s just a straight swap.
Then there’s De’Zhaun Stribling, who’s ditching his preseason No. 15 for No. 7. Now, here’s where it gets a little wild for the fans: No. 7 was previously worn by Demarcus Robinson, who just moved into Aiyuk’s old spot. If you were one of the folks who bought a Stribling jersey during his stellar preseason performance, you just took a bad beat. Sorry, buddy. It’s tough out there for jersey collectors!
The No. 11 Saga: Aiyuk’s Departure Echoes
But let’s be real, the biggest news here is Demarcus Robinson taking over the iconic No. 11. It’s the number that belonged to Brandon Aiyuk, who, let’s be clear, deserted the team and is no longer on the active roster. Even though he’s technically still under contract, Aiyuk isn’t assigned a jersey number because he’s not with the squad. That freed up the No. 11, and Robinson snagged it. It’s not totally new territory for Robinson, either, as he wore No. 11 back from 2018-21 when he was tearing it up with the Kansas City Chiefs.
What does all this mean for the 49ers as they kick off the regular season? Well, it sends a pretty clear message about Aiyuk’s situation, and it shows the team isn’t waiting around. With these number changes for Cowing and Stribling, plus the huge shift with Aiyuk’s old number, it feels like a fresh slate. We’ll have to see if these new numbers bring some new energy on the field.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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