Jauan Jennings was in uniform and took the field for the 49ers’ practice Monday morning, six days before their season opener. Jennings had missed more than a month of practices in training camp and the preseason with a calf injury weeks after requesting a raise or a trade.
Jennings reported on time and took the field for the 49ers’ initial training camp practices but has been out with July 27 with a calf injury similar to the one that caused him to miss camp time a year ago, according to coach Kyle Shanahan. He hasn’t spoken to reporters during that time, and unlike teammate Brandon Aiyuk, who is rehabbing a torn ACL, has not been on the field with teammates, although he’s been attending meetings.
In the second year of a two-year, $15.39 million contract extension, Jennings reportedly asked for a trade before camp began. However, Shanahan said no request was made to him in his conversations with Jennings.
With missed practices piling up, the 49ers altered their media strategy regarding Jennings when general manager John Lynch said last week that “both things can be true, you know, he wants a new contract and he’s got a hurt calf, so I think people want to assume one or the other. Both things can be true.”
Lynch also confirmed last Wednesday that Jennings had indeed asked for a trade, but declined to specify when the request was made and added “he asked for it and we’ve moved on. We’re not doing that, so we’re moving forward.”
Like Jennings, right tackle Colton McKivitiz is also entering the final year of his contract, but, unlike Jennings, McKivitz has been a daily fixture at practice without a whisper of discontent over his contract.
Aiyuk got off to a slow start after negotiating a four-year contract worth a maximum of $120 million, causing him to miss much of training camp. After sustaining a torn ACL and MCL, Jennings assumed the role of the 49ers’ top-producing wide receiver and finished with career highs of 77 receptions, 975 yards and six touchdowns.
The 49ers sustained some free agent losses in the offseason, but have been willing to extend the contracts of core players such as Christian McCaffrey, Trent Williams and Deommodore Lenoir last season and George Kittle and Fred Warner before training camp. They also signed quarterback Brock Purdy to a five-year extension worth a maximum of $265 million.
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Before training camp began, Lynch said he felt good about where things were with Jennings.
“I won’t speak for Jauan, but had a good visit with him,” Lynch said on July 22. “We anticipate him being out there. You guys know our feelings on JJ. He embodies what we think a Niner is all about, plays the right way and we love him … All that stuff, we’re not going to get into the contract talks and all that. That takes care of itself, but we love him and he’s here.”
Wide receivers currently on the 53-man roster are Ricky Pearsall Jr., Russell Gage Jr., Skyy Moore and Jordan Watkins has missed considerable time with a high ankle sprain and Moore was an in-camp trade acquistion from the Kansas City Chiefs. Those on the practice squad who could be in line for a Week 1 promotion are veterans Marques Valdes-Scantling and Robbie Chosen.