49ers’ Trent Williams on Jauan Jennings: “Having him out there is really important”

In a welcome development for the San Francisco 49ers, wide receiver Jauan Jennings returned to practice on Monday as the team prepares for its regular-season opener against the Seattle Seahawks. His appearance was a surprise to many, considering his recent absence, but teammates, head coach Kyle Shanahan, and general manager John Lynch were quick to show their excitement, with a smiling Lynch and Shanahan even offering a warm "welcome back" to the veteran receiver.

The 49ers have publicly stated that Jennings' absence from training camp was due to the receiver managing a lingering calf injury—though some observers have speculated the situation could also be tied to his contract status.

Jennings is entering the final year of a two-year deal signed in 2024, and Lynch confirmed last week that the receiver requested a trade at some point during training camp—something the team has no plans to grant.

After practice, All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams spoke with reporters in the locker room and was asked about Jennings' return. Williams made it clear that while business disputes inevitably arise, the focus remains on supporting teammates throughout the process.

"When a player's going through stuff like that, you just kind of let them go through it with the team," Williams said. "I think everybody in their career is gonna have a standoff or battle of some sort. So, I just try to not worry about it, let them two parties work it out."

Williams also stressed Jennings' importance to the 49ers' offense after offseason changes. Deebo Samuel is now with the Washington Commanders, while Brandon Aiyuk is still working his way back from ACL and MCL injuries. That leaves Jennings and second-year wideout Ricky Pearsall in line to start in Week 1.

"Obviously, Jauan is a hell of a player, one of our best players on the team, so having him out there is really important. But the business, there's a different side to it, so you let it work out."

Jennings wasn't the only player to rejoin the 49ers on Monday. Guard Dominick Puni (knee sprain), defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos (knee), and rookie cornerback Upton Stout (calf) also returned to practice, giving the team a much-needed boost ahead of its divisional matchup.

Williams stressed the importance of having as many contributors available as possible with a tough challenge looming in Seattle.

"All hands on deck, having the guys that we plan to be here, having them there Week 1," Williams said. "It's definitely going to help. We're going to need it. We're going into the toughest environment in the league, and no real warm-up to it.

"So, we're going to have to, against all odds, try to play a clean game and not have the first-week rustiness, like everybody expects. And having our guys back helps that a lot."

The 49ers will kick off their 2025 campaign this Sunday in one of the NFL's loudest and most hostile stadiums, and Jennings' presence on the field could prove crucial in setting the tone for the season.