Niners Nation
Just when you thought the San Francisco 49ers were not going to have a contract negotiation going into the 11th hour. Then the Jauan Jennings situation.
The San Francisco Standard’s Tim Kawakami wrote about the negotiation in his latest column. Let’s say, if you missed the contract drama storylines the 49ers are known for, then this should satisfy:
I checked around, and my understanding is that the 49ers feel that the timing is all wrong. They don’t want to give Jennings a big new deal so soon after he signed the last one, a year after giving Brandon Aiyuk a huge contract that the 49ers’ money people almost instantly regretted, and months after signing Brock Purdy to a $265 million deal.
The 49ers’ wide receiver requested either a trade or a contract before training camp began. He did show up for camp, but re-aggravated a calf injury, putting him back on the sidelines. John Lynch has kept things positive regarding Jennings, the player, but also said they were keeping the news of negotiations behind the scenes.
And if this is any indication, these negotiations may take a while.
Oh, goody.
The 49ers’ wide receiver room is battling more injuries by the day. Brandon Aiyuk’s status is up in the air, and he won’t see the field for at least a month into the season. Jordan Watkins has a high ankle sprain and will be out for a month as well. Jacob Cowing has returned to practice, and it would be nice to see Brock Purdy throwing to someone other than Ricky Pearsall or George Kittle.
There hasn’t been a formal trade request yet. So at least that’s a positive. Unfortunately, Kawakami says that the 49ers and Jennings are “not close” to anything. The calf injury can’t be helping things either. Kyle Shanahan indicated Jennings’ sitting out was strictly for the calf and had nothing to do with holding out for a new deal. When he does return to practice (there is no timetable for return), it will be interesting.
It wouldn’t be a 49ers offseason without a vital contract dragging into September.
