Last season, wide receiver Jauan Jennings proved to the San Francisco 49ers that he could thrive in an expanded role. Filling in for an injured Brandon Aiyuk (ACL/MCL), Jennings posted career highs with 77 receptions for 975 yards and six touchdowns.
With Aiyuk expected to miss the start of the 2025 season, Jennings enters training camp as the team's de facto WR1, a role he has never held at the beginning of a season. Jennings is also in the final year of the two-year deal he signed in 2024 and is reportedly seeking a new contract, and will reportedly request a trade if he doesn't receive one.
The good news? Jennings opened camp as a full participant. The bad news? A nagging calf injury, which sidelined him earlier in the offseason, has flared up again, keeping him off the field and clouding his short-term availability.
Bleacher Report's Gary Davenport suggests Jennings' inability to stay on the field may hurt his chances of securing a lucrative extension. The 49ers recently confirmed there is no timetable for his return.
"With Aiyuk iffy at best for the beginning of the regular season, the last thing the 49ers need is for Jennings to be dealing with an injury that just won't go away," Davenport wrote. "And it's not easy to justify a fat raise if you can't get on the field."
Of course, the timing couldn't be worse for the 49ers, who already lack depth at wide receiver with Aiyuk recovering and Deebo Samuel now a member of the Washington Commanders.
Fullback Kyle Juszczyk recently spoke about Jennings' value to the offense.
"Jauan's a football player," Juszczyk said, "and I think that's the biggest compliment you can give anybody in this building, is to say they're just a football player. Jauan's a guy that we all feed off of—his energy, his physicality, his ability to get open, make big plays when we need him.
"Jauan is one of us, and we love him. We hope he gets whatever he deserves, and then, we can keep cruising forward with him."
For Jennings, staying healthy could be the key to locking down the WR1 role in the short term and securing the long-term contract he seeks.