49ers: Jauan Jennings doesn’t request a trade, but seeks a new contract

49ers Expectations: Jauan Jennings and the Start of Training Camp

On the eve of the first training session of the 2025 camp, San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch and coach Kyle Shanahan expressed their confidence that wide receiver Jauan Jennings will be present and participating at the start of Wednesday’s practices. Shanahan and Lynch spent approximately 21 minutes discussing the start of camp on Tuesday, focusing on the receiver situation, where several unknowns exist. The main concern centers on Jennings, who, according to sources, is seeking a lucrative contract extension or, failing that, a trade. However, Lynch and Shanahan stated on Tuesday that Jennings showed up to camp on Monday, has not yet formally requested a trade, and they expect him to be in his usual position when training begins.

“I won’t speak for Jauan, but I had a good conversation with him. We anticipate he’ll be there. They know our feelings for JJ. He embodies what we believe a Niner is, he plays the right way, and we love him… We won’t get into the contract talks and all that. That resolves itself, but we love him and he’s here,” Lynch said.

John Lynch

When asked if there have been conversations with Jennings’ agent, Drew Rosenhaus, about a new deal, Lynch avoided giving details, reiterating that “we love him and he’s here.” Jennings is entering the final season of the two-year, $15.39 million extension he signed in the 2024 offseason and is scheduled to count $4.258 million against the salary cap. Jennings’ desire to get a salary increase comes after a standout season in which he achieved 77 receptions for 975 yards and six touchdowns, falling just short of 1,000 yards, largely due to his ejection in the first half of the last game of the season against the Arizona Cardinals. He also finished 10th in the NFL in yards per route run (2.51) and is considered one of the best blockers among the league’s receivers. On Tuesday, San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy, who signed a mega-contract in the offseason, expressed his desire for Jennings’ situation to be resolved as soon as possible.

“It’s extremely important. Obviously, I love JJ and what he brings to our team and to me as a quarterback. We’ve had a lot of success together and whenever you see something like this as a player, it’s like, ‘let’s figure something out so he can get back on the field and continue doing what we’ve done.’ I hope everything gets resolved, but I’d love to have my teammate on the field with me,” Purdy said.

Brock Purdy

Of course, Jennings currently has a big advantage given the uncertainty at the Niners’ receiver position. Number 1 receiver Brandon Aiyuk is still recovering from the ACL and MCL tear in his right knee that he suffered in Week 7 of last season. The Niners placed Aiyuk on the physically unable to play list last week and do not expect him to participate in the on-field portion of training camp.

“He did a lot with his knee, and I would say he’s in a really good place considering all that,” Lynch said. “What does that mean in terms of timelines and all that? We continue to evaluate and get information… I think we’re encouraged by where he is, but we’re not close to having a timeline established.”

John Lynch

Second-year receiver Ricky Pearsall is also recovering from what Shanahan on Tuesday called a “bad” hamstring injury suffered during the team’s offseason program in the spring. Pearsall was one of six players placed on the physically unable to play list, but Lynch and Shanahan indicated that Pearsall’s stay on that list shouldn’t be prolonged. Lynch said it’s unlikely Pearsall will practice on Wednesday and Shanahan pointed out the possibility of him being activated on Sunday after the team has had three practices and has a day off.

“He’s fine now,” Shanahan said. “He’s hit all his miles per hour. He’s good… We’re not going to throw to a wide receiver the first three days. We don’t want him to throw again until we see his conditioning and everything, which we should get in three days.”

Kyle Shanahan

Other information related to the receivers that the Niners are awaiting is the possible sanction for the incorporation of veteran Demarcus Robinson, who pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence in Los Angeles on July 10. He was ordered to pay a fine of $390 and complete court-ordered programs, including a three-month alcohol education program.

That statement could lead to a suspension for Robinson, although that has not yet been decided, Lynch said.

“That’s a league matter regarding Demarcus and we’ll let that play out,” Lynch said. “We knew the possibility existed when we signed Demarcus, [so] we’ve taken that into account.”

John Lynch

With all that in mind, the Niners worked out six receivers on Monday and, according to Lynch, agreed to terms with veteran Equanimeous St. Brown on Tuesday. Shanahan prefers to have 12 healthy receivers in training camp, but with Aiyuk and Pearsall on the physically unable to play list and other questions abounding, they wanted to add at least one more player to that group.

In six seasons in the NFL, split between the Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bears, and New Orleans Saints, St. Brown has played in 62 games with 63 receptions for 928 yards and two touchdowns. He had no targets or receptions in two games with the Saints in 2024.