On Wednesday, San Francisco 49ers General Manager John Lynch provided an update on wide receiver Jauan Jennings’ status for the upcoming season. Jennings, who has been sidelined with a calf injury since July 27 and missed most of training camp, may not be ready to play in Week 1.
“Calves can take a long time,” Lynch said regarding whether Jennings will be available at the start of the regular season. “We’ll have to make that judgement when the time comes.” He added, “Both things can be true. He wants a new contract, and he’s got a hurt calf.”
The team remains “hopeful, but not sure” if their wide receiver will be ready for Week 1 as he continues his recovery process. Lynch also clarified that although Jennings had requested a trade earlier, “Jauan Jennings did ask to be traded a while ago but they have moved on since then.”
Jennings is entering the second year of his two-year $11.89 million contract with the 49ers, earning a base salary of $1.17 million for 2025, which ranks him ninety-first among all NFL wide receivers according to Spotrac. Last season he ranked twenty-fifth in receiving yards among receivers and was second on the team behind tight end George Kittle.
With ongoing negotiations over a possible contract extension and uncertainty about his health status for Week 1, there is speculation that Jennings could go on injured reserve if matters are unresolved.
The team’s wide receiver group faces multiple issues heading into the first week of the season. Brandon Aiyuk will miss at least six games due to being placed on the physically unable to perform list; Ricky Pearsall may step up as WR1 if Jennings cannot play; recent trades and signings have brought Skyy Moore and Marquez Valdes-Scantling into consideration; Jordan Watkins is dealing with an ankle injury.
For now, projections place Kittle and running back Christian McCaffrey as primary targets in fantasy football until clarity emerges about who will fill key receiver roles for San Francisco in Week 1.
