If there was ever a cold war between receiver Jauan Jennings and the San Francisco 49ers, it seems to have come to a close, at least for the foreseeable future.
Jennings and the 49ers agreed to an adjusted contract Wednesday, a league source said, ending a dispute that had lingered for months. The new deal offers Jennings the opportunity to earn an additional $3 million via incentives, on top of the $7.5 million he was already set to make this season, and he can still hit free agency next spring.
Wide receiver woes dominated 49ers training camp this summer. Their top wideout, Brandon Aiyuk, will miss at least the first four games while he recovers from last year’s torn ACL. Newcomer Demarcus Robinson is suspended for the first three games in relation to his 2024 DUI arrest. And rising players Jordan Watkins (high ankle) and Jacob Cowing (hamstring) are injured.
The recent acquisitions of Skyy Moore and Marquez Valdes-Scantling have boosted the 49ers’ depth, but Jennings is their most accomplished wide receiver target entering the season, especially on tough, third-down throws. He became the team’s primary wide receiver last October after Aiyuk was lost for the season, and he led that group with 975 receiving yards and six touchdowns. If Jennings remains healthy — he missed all of preseason with a calf injury before returning to practice Monday — he and Ricky Pearsall are expected to be the team’s starting wideouts in Week 1.
“Having him back on the practice field Monday was awesome,” coach Kyle Shanahan said. “We love J.J. When he is not there, he is greatly missed. The way he carries himself, the energy he plays with and how good of a player he is makes everyone very excited.”
The 49ers have a recent history of tense contract disputes with receivers, going through one with Deebo Samuel in 2022 and Aiyuk last year. Jennings’ situation wasn’t nearly as public, but he made it known before training camp that he was looking for a new deal, and general manager John Lynch recently revealed that at some point Jennings asked to be traded.
“He asked for it, and we’ve moved on,” Lynch said on Aug. 27. “We’re not doing that, so we’re moving forward.”
It’s unclear whether Jennings’ recent calf injury, which popped up early in training camp, was legitimate, a negotiating tactic or a little of both.
“He wants a new contract, and he’s got a hurt calf,” Lynch said. “So I think people want to assume one or the other. Both things can be true.”
(Photo: Ezra Shaw / Getty Images)
