With star wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk out until at least Week 6, the San Francisco 49ers can’t really afford to have No. 2 receiver Jauan Jennings sitting out games.
But that seems like the most plausible scenario as the 49ers and Jennings remain at an impasse in contract negotiations. In fact, Tim Kawakami of the San Francisco Standard reported that Jennings, who’s battling a lingering calf injury, could be placed on injured reserve in the coming days if his contract issue isn’t resolved, which would sideline him for at least the first four games of the season.
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It was speculated that the 28-year-old wideout had requested a trade amid the contract standoff—Jennings is entering the final season of his two-year, $15.4 million deal and he’s seeking a sizable raise from the $4.25 million he’s set to make in 2025—and on Wednesday, 49ers general manager John Lynch confirmed that was indeed the case.
“A while ago he [requested a trade], but that was a long time ago,” Lynch said, via Pro Football Talk. “We’ve moved on from that. I’m not getting into when it was but it was a while ago.”
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While San Francisco could likely get back some valuable draft capital if it did trade away Jennings, who led all 49ers receivers last season with 77 catches, 975 yards, and six touchdowns, that option doesn’t even seem to be on Lynch’s radar.
“We’re not doing that,” Lynch brazenly told reporters on Wednesday, via The Athletic.
San Francisco is just 11 days from its season opener against the Seattle Seahawks, and even if Jennings and the 49ers weren’t locked in a contract dispute, his status for Week 1 would still be in question.
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The Tennessee Volunteers alum sat out all three preseason games and missed most of training camp because of his calf injury, but Lynch doesn’t believe the wideout is using his injury as leverage to help expedite getting a new contract done — something Lynch also doesn’t seem to be inclined to do.
“Both things can be true — he has a calf injury, and he wants a new contract,” Lynch added.
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