San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings returned to the practice field this week after battling a calf injury and attempting to secure a contract extension. While the two sides couldn't agree on a multi-year deal, they reached a compromise: the 49ers added $3 million in play-time incentives to Jennings' remaining contract year, boosting his potential 2025 earnings to $10.5 million and keeping him on track to hit free agency in 2026.

It may not have been the long-term solution either side initially wanted, but Jennings is content with the outcome and has shifted his focus to Week 1's showdown against the Seattle Seahawks.


"Right now, just focusing on Week 1," Jennings said in the locker room after Thursday's practice.

When asked if he was satisfied with the deal, the wideout offered a lighthearted response: "Oh yeah, I love money. Do you love money? I love money."


Jennings added, "We got accomplished what we did, and I'm extremely grateful. And just the opportunity itself, extremely grateful. And like I said, just to be back with the team, [with guys] like Fred Warner and George Kittle, it means a lot. So, a lot of Forty-Niner football on the way."

General manager John Lynch also addressed Jennings' situation during a Thursday morning interview with Bay Area radio station KNBR. Lynch emphasized that the 49ers still hope to work out a long-term agreement with the receiver despite the short-term compromise.

"Obviously, we couldn't come to an agreement on that right now, but that's not to say that's gone," Lynch explained. "Some teams do have the policy, once you hit the season, they put all contracts away. That's not something we've done. We are going to kind of focus on going and beating Seattle right now, but we'll continue to try to work towards that. We've said it many times, we love J.J., we love his presence on this team, and we want to keep him around here for a while."


Quarterback Brock Purdy is glad to have his reliable target back on the field and isn't too worried about Jennings missing most of training camp.

"I think it's been pretty smooth so far," Purdy said on Thursday. "I think the practices that we've been together, out on the field, we've honestly picked up where we left off. I think, over time, over the last couple of practices, it's been really good just talking about some routes and things, and getting reps, and throwing him some tight coverage balls. And for him to come down with them, it's been really good reps and timing and things that we've gotten at practice so far.

"So, obviously, we have a couple of more days to get ready for this game together, and we're going to continue to hone in on the details and be ready. But, obviously, he's been in this situation before, where he comes back from an injury, and he gets put right back in, and he picks up and goes. J.J.'s really good with that."

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