The San Francisco 49ers remain unsure whether Jauan Jennings will be able to play in Week 1, but the team made one thing clear on Wednesday: they have no intention of trading him.
Jennings exited practice during the fourth day of training camp with a calf injury, and his status for the season has been in question. GM John Lynch and coach Kyle Shanahan provided some clarity on Jennings’ situation, stressing that a trade request from Jennings earlier in camp has not been granted and will not be granted.
“He asked for it and we’ve moved on. We’re not doing that. So, we’re moving forward,” Lynch said. Jennings is in the final year of his contract extension from 2024 and is set to count $4.258 million against the cap this season, with more than $8 million in dead money remaining from void years.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported in mid-July that Jennings was seeking a lucrative extension or, if that wasn’t feasible, a trade. Jennings did show up for camp on time and participated in the first four practices before leaving the fourth session with a calf issue.
Lynch acknowledged that both issues — the calf injury and the desire for a new deal — can be true at the same time. Jennings hasn’t practiced since July 27, and with Week 1 looming, the 49ers are hoping to have him healthy enough to play against the Seattle Seahawks on Sept. 7.
“Ideally everybody has a training camp, everyone is out there. That’s a perfect world, but he’s been putting in work to the side and we’ll have to make that judgment when the time comes,” Lynch said.
For now, San Francisco has chosen to let Jennings ride out the final year of his deal, though adjustments to the year remaining aren’t off the table. The team signed veteran Marquez Valdes-Scantling to a one-year deal on Wednesday and expect to bring back veteran Russell Gage Jr. to the active roster after releasing him earlier in the week.
“Jauan is still working through his calf issue, making progress. We’re kind of like everyone else, hopeful but not sure on Week 1, and we’ll proceed as such,” Lynch said.
The 49ers entered the season with a depleted receiver room after trimming their roster to 53 players. Only two healthy receivers remained on the depth chart — Ricky Pearsall and Skyy Moore — at the time, before the latest roster moves. In addition to Jennings’ situation, the team has several WR-related moves in the works.
San Francisco also placed wideout Jacob Cowing on injured reserve with a hamstring issue and re-signed punter Thomas Morstead on Wednesday. The club claimed defensive tackle Jordan Jefferson off waivers from the Jacksonville Jaguars and waived defensive tackle Evan Anderson to make room.
On the health front, Shanahan offered guarded optimism about other key players potentially returning for Seattle, naming right guard Dominick Puni (knee), defensive tackle Yetur Gross-Matos (knee), left guard Ben Bartch (elbow), and slot cornerback Upton Stout (calf) as players who could be back in time for Week 1.
Jennings’ situation has put a spotlight on the business side of roster decisions while also underscoring how quickly the 49ers’ depth chart can change ahead of the season opener. The team’s actions in free agency and during camp — including the Rash of WR signings and reassignments — reflect a broader strategy of balancing financial considerations with on-field needs as they aim to begin the season prepared for a tough NFC slate.
What to watch next: Will Jennings be able to return to practice soon and be available for Week 1? How quickly can the WR room stabilize with Valdes-Scantling’s addition and Gage’s expected return, and how will the 49ers’ evolving receiver corps affect plans for Seattle?
Summary: The 49ers confirmed they won’t trade Jauan Jennings despite his trade request, while contending with a calf injury that could affect Week 1 involvement. The team is actively adjusting its receiving corps, adding Marquez Valdes-Scantling and planning to bring back Russell Gage, as they monitor Jennings’ health and await potential returns from other injured players. The goal remains clear: maximize health and production ahead of the Sept. 7 season opener against Seattle, with a cautious eye on how the WR room evolves in the weeks ahead.