49ers receiver Jauan Jennings reports to training camp seeking a new contract
General manager John Lynch said Tuesday that Jennings passed a physical when he reported for camp this week.
'I anticipate him being out there,' Lynch said. 'You guys know our feelings on JJ. He embodies what we think a Niner is all about. He plays the right way and we love him. We're not going to get into the contract talks and all that. That takes care of itself. We love him and he's here.'
Coach Kyle Shanahan said Jennings hasn't formally requested a trade. Jennings is entering the final season of a two-year, $15.4 million contract and is seeking a long-term extension before the season.
Shanahan said he would like to be able to reach an extension with both Jennings and right tackle Colton McKivitz before the season.
'The way they feel about us is the same way we feel about them,' Shanahan said. 'That's the easy part. The hard part is the business side.'
The Niners were hoping to avoid the contract distractions this summer after dealing with disputes with Nick Bosa, Brandon Aiyuk and Trent Williams the past two seasons that kept all of them out of training camp practices.
They reached extensions early in the offseason with stars Brock Purdy, Fred Warner and George Kittle, but now have a potential issue with Jennings.
The 2020 seventh-round pick has emerged as one of Purdy's most trusted options at wide receiver after having 77 catches for 975 yards and six TDs last season. With Deebo Samuel having been traded to Washington in March and Aiyuk working back from a knee injury, Jennings has a big role this season.
'It's extremely important obviously,' Purdy said about having Jennings at practice. 'I love JJ and what he brings to our team. Obviously we've had so much success together and anytime you see something like this going on, as a player let's figure out something so we can get back on the field.'
Injury updates
The Niners have several players starting camp in injury lists with the only expected long-term absences coming from players dealing with ACL injuries: Aiyuk, safety Malik Mustapha, linebacker Curtis Robinson and rookie quarterback Kurtis Rourke.
Lynch said those players will likely start the season on injured lists but is hopeful they can return some time during the first half of the season.
Receiver Ricky Pearsall, defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos and offensive lineman Andre Dillard all will start camp on the physically unable to perform list but are expected back on the field soon.
Ben Bartch, who is in the mix to start at left guard, will also miss at least the first three days of camp on the non-football injury list after injuring his quadriceps working out on his own.
Running back Christian McCaffrey and Williams are both 'here and healthy,' Shanahan said, but their work loads will be managed through camp after dealing with injuries last season.
Roster move
With questions at receiver, the Niners signed Equanimeous St. Brown to add depth at the position following a tryout on Monday that featured six receivers.
St. Brown, the brother of Detroit star Amon-Ra St. Brown, has 63 catches for 928 yards in 62 career games for Green Bay, Chicago and New Orleans.
___
AP NFL:
https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
3 minutes ago
- USA Today
Victor Wembanyama may want the NBA to distance itself from Karl Malone
San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama made a very noteworthy decision on social media Friday afternoon and it could make waves around the NBA. Wembanyama, who is currently recovering from a blood clot that sidelined him for the second half of last season, was recently cleared to return from his injury. He caught some attention based on some of his social media activity this week. The NBA made a post wishing a happy birthday to former NBA star Karl Malone. Here is what we wrote in 2023 regarding allegations that Malone impregnated his 13-year-old neighbor when he was 20: Blood tests showed a 99.3 percent probability Malone was the father of Demetress Bell, per AP. The family could have filed criminal charges against Malone for impregnating a minor because, in Louisiana, an individual could not consent to sex until the age of 17. While statutory rape could have carried a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, Malone was a 'neighborhood kid', so they didn't press charges. His actions are absolutely heinous and should make it hard for the NBA to look themselves in the mirror after honoring this man two years in a row. But the story doesn't stop there for Malone and his awful shortcomings. When the child's grandparents filed a lawsuit in 1985 requesting $200 a week to help their daughter raise their son, Malone did not respond, despite his career earnings topping $104 million. He was ordered to pay $125 per week in child support, but he appealed, eventually reaching a settlement that did not require him to acknowledge that he was the father. It seems more than possible that Wembanyama is aware of the history surrounding Malone. More: The NBA should be ashamed for honoring Karl Malone during All-Star Weekend He reposted DJ J. Strand reacting to the birthday wishes with a meme video of content creator Lil Rodney Son saying "Oh no, see, that's what we not about to do." Also in the video responding to the post about Malone, Lil Rodney Son is on camera saying someone belongs "under the jail" for their actions. To be fair, we don't know exactly why Wembanyama chose to repost this. Remember: Reposts do not equal endorsements (which is now officially the case, as decided by a judge) so unless Wembanyama directly says something about the matter, we do not know his feelings. But many, including Complex, are speculating that Wemby would like the league to distance itself from Malone. Even this, though, is more than most (if not all) prominent basketball players have said about this difficult topic. So perhaps just the speculation that the rising star wants no part of Malone is enough for the NBA to listen.
San Francisco Chronicle
3 minutes ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Lottie Woad takes 2-shot lead over Nelly Korda in pro debut at Women's Scottish Open
IRVINE, Scotland (AP) — Lottie Woad of England played bogey-free Friday and took advantage of unusually calm conditions toward the end to post a 7-under 65, giving the English star a two-shot lead over top-ranked Nelly Korda and Nanna Koerstz Madsen in the Women's Scottish Open. Woad is making her professional debut, which only means she gets paid at the end of the week. She looks no different from the last couple of weeks, when she won the Women's Irish Open and then tied for third in the LPGA major in France at the Evian Championship. Korda birdied her last two holes for a 66 to get to within two shots, hopeful she is trending in the right direction as she goes for her first win of the season. Koerstz Madsen also shot 66. Woad, who played her college golf at Florida State, was at 12-under 132 after spending two days before the largest crowd at Dundonald Links, playing in the same group as Korda and Charley Hull of England. Woad's finish at the Evian Championship earned her an LPGA card, prompting her to turn pro. The Women's Scottish Open felt no different from her other July events. It was all about trying to ride the momentum. She dismissed the notion that she has started her pro career by taking a 36-hole lead in a tournament co-sanctioned by the LPGA and the Ladies European Tour. 'I played in seven majors now so I've had all that experience, and obviously the LET events, too,' Woad said. 'So wasn't really new things I guess. Kind of knew how to deal with it.' She has missed only two greens each of the last two rounds on the links course just to the north of Royal Troon on the Ayrshire coast. It's a strong field with the final major of the year, the Women's British Open, next week at Royal Porthcawl in Wales. The biggest help was the wind, or lack of it. The breeze gave way to calm conditions, and Woad ran off four birdies on the back to seize control. Korda, winless after a seven-victory season in 2024, made her lone mistake with a bogey on the par-5 18th as she made the turn. She handled the calm conditions on the front nine to get in the final group. 'Apparently this is not really Scottish weather. It's pretty soft, so I've been hearing this is not the typical weather and course they usually play out here,' Korda said. 'But overall, when you get good rounds under your belt, that's always a step in the right direction. My main focus is this week. I'm trying to finish as best as I possibly can.' ___
San Francisco Chronicle
3 minutes ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Vikings sideline Justin Jefferson with 'very mild' hamstring strain
EAGAN, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings will keep wide receiver Justin Jefferson off the field for awhile because of a mild strain of his left hamstring. Coach Kevin O'Connell said before practice on Friday that Jefferson would be re-evaluated next week. The two-time All-Pro, who has the most receiving yards in NFL history through a player's first five years, felt some tightness in his leg during the team's session on Thursday and cut short his participation as a precaution. The Vikings sent him for an MRI exam afterward. O'Connell described the injury as 'very mild' and said he had no concern about Jefferson being ready for the season opener at Chicago on Sept. 8, which is more than six weeks away. Still, considering his value to the team, the type of the injury and the demands of his position, Jefferson figures to miss more than just a few days of training camp practices. Jefferson suffered a significant strain of his right hamstring in 2023 that caused him to miss seven games. ___
