The San Francisco 49ers got a timely lift on September 1 as Jauan Jennings returned to practice. San Francisco have dealt with injuries to the wide receiver group. As a result, having Jennings back in the fold will boost the Brock Purdy-led offense.
Jennings has been sidelined for an extended period with a calf injury. Still, his future with the 49ers remained uncertain due to his desire for a new contract, which prompted a trade request.
On July 14, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported, citing sources, that Jennings wanted either a new deal or a trade as he is set to earn $7.5 million in the final year of his contract.
Nonetheless, when speaking to the media on September 3, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said he holds no hard feelings for Jennings. Furthermore, he emphasized that he wants all his players to maximize their earnings.
“We have no issues with Jauan in [terms of] relationship,” Shanahan said (h/t KNBR). “[With] Jauan [it’s] all love, that was never personal.”
49ers, Jauan Jennings Situation Was All Business
Shanahan has spent years in the NFL, so he can separate personal feelings from the business side of football. He also understands that players have a limited window to secure their financial futures. Moreover, a single injury or sudden roster change can quickly affect a player’s earnings.
“It’s business, and that’s the tough thing about this,” Shanahan added. “I want every player to make as much money as possible. I want every coach. I want everybody to. It’s just hard in situations to always do that, but that’s something as a coach you’re always pulling for.
“But also, I do understand the business, too. Sometimes it’s hard when other people don’t, so you got to communicate with people and stuff like that so it doesn’t become personal. But the relationship I’ve always had with Jauan, never really worried about that.”
Both sides are ready to move on, and Jennings must replicate last season’s production. He’s approaching free agency next offseason and will look for a big payday.
What Was Jauan Jennings’ Contract Demand?
Jennings could have missed training camp and the preseason due to a calf injury. Nonetheless, reports suggest he was also seeking a new contract. According to Tim Kawakami of the SF Standard, the 49ers found his reported salary request too high to meet.
“What you hear, not from the camp, but from NFL circles, is that it’s high,” Kawakami said on 95.7 The Game’s “Willard and Dibs” on August 28. “It’s above [$20 million per year], is what I’ve heard and maybe a lot above [$20 million] a year, to put him in the top 20 or so of receivers, in that realm. 49ers have done it before with Brandon Aiyuk, so there is precedent for lifting a guy way up in the higher ranks of the receivers.
“What I’ve heard from the 49ers’ side is they don’t want to do anything. They are negotiating. I think there have been numbers exchanged but they just redid his deal last year and that’s before he got 977 yards receiving. That was before he was [the] first receiver, basically, last year when Aiyuk got hurt. That’s before a lot of other things happened.”
Kyle Shanahan Gives Clear Message to 49ers’ $7.5M Star