San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch has clarified that the team’s recent trade to acquire wide receiver Skyy Moore was not related to Jauan Jennings‘ ongoing contract situation. During an appearance on KNBR’s “Murph & Markus,” Lynch responded to speculation about whether the move was meant to send a message to Jennings, who has been sidelined with a calf injury while also seeking a new contract.
“No message,” Lynch said. “We like the player, Skyy. We love Jauan. We’re getting close to the season. Players got to practice, but if they’re not healthy enough to do it, they can’t. So that’s kind of where we’re at with Jauan right now. (… )We’re getting there, where we got to get out there on that field. We’ll continue to let that thing unfold.” This statement from Lynch addressed rumors regarding possible motivations behind the trade.
Jennings participated at the start of training camp but has since remained out due to his lingering calf issue. While some have questioned whether his absence is linked more closely to his desire for a new contract or solely due to injury concerns, the 49ers have maintained limited public commentary on Jennings’ situation.
When asked if he felt frustrated about Jennings’ status as Week 1 approaches, Lynch responded: “No. Like I said, Jauan’s a big part of this team, and we’re looking forward to the time when he’s back out there again and hopefully that’s soon.”
The San Francisco 49ers are scheduled to open their season against the Seattle Seahawks in Seattle on Sept. 7 at Lumen Field.
