San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings’ status for the first week of the upcoming NFL season is uncertain due to a lingering calf injury and ongoing contract negotiations. Jennings, who has missed most of training camp with a calf issue that first appeared earlier in the offseason, is reportedly seeking more than $20 million per year in a contract extension.
Tim Kawakami of The San Francisco Standard reported that the team is “unwilling to meet those demands,” quoting, “If you ask me what the dollars are, I would tell you, just from my opinion, that it’s not close. It’s not even close.” The situation is complicated by injuries elsewhere on the San Francisco 49ers roster, as Brandon Aiyuk will miss at least four games because of a knee injury. Jennings had previously asked for a trade; however, general manager John Lynch confirmed that “the Niners have no intentions of moving him.”
Providing an update on Jennings’ recovery and negotiations, Lynch stated that the organization remains “hopeful that he is ready for Week 1.” Head coach Kyle Shanahan added his perspective about the player’s return: “I expect him to be back, he should be back from it. But you never know with a calf.”
Calf injuries can linger and often require careful management. The San Francisco 49ers are scheduled to begin their season on Sept. 7 against the Seattle Seahawks. Should Jennings remain unavailable alongside Aiyuk’s absence from the physically unable to perform list (PUP), lesser-known receivers such as Ricky Pearsall may see expanded roles early in the year.
Jennings’ reliability on third downs has been noted as an important component within Shanahan’s offensive strategy.
