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John Lynch: 49ers Still Interested In Long-Term Jauan Jennings Agreement

September 4th, 2025 at 3:26pm CST by Adam La Rose

Jauan Jennings‘ short-term future received clarity yesterday. The extension-seeking wideout worked out a compromise with the 49ers by agreeing to incentives covering the 2025 season.

Beyond the coming year, however, it remains to be seen if Jennings will be in the fold for San Francisco. As a pending free agent, the possibility of a departure on the open market looms. It will likely take until next spring to learn Jennings’ fate, but general manager John Lynch made it clear in the wake of the restructure that a long-term commitment is still a team goal.

“We’re going to continue to try to work on a long-term deal, but right now we’ve got something, a solution, that works for everybody for the short term, and that’s a good thing for the Niners,” Lynch said during a Thursday appearance on KNBR (via David Bonilla of 49ers WebZone).

Considering the 49ers’ stance on in-season negotiating, the door is open to a Jennings agreement covering 2026 and beyond coming to fruition. Attention is currently focused on the start of the campaign, of course, and the former seventh-rounder will aim to maximize his incentives regardless of where his future lies. At a minimum, it is well known the 49ers will not look into trading Jennings.

“Some teams do have the policy, once you hit the season, they put all contracts away. That’s not something we’ve done,” Lynch added. We are going to kind of focus on going and beating Seattle right now, but we’ll continue to try to work towards that. We’ve said it many times, we love J.J., we love his presence on this team, and we want to keep him around here for a while.”

Brandon Aiyuk is attached to a $30MM-per-year deal thanks to last year’s extension. Deebo Samuel is no longer in the fold, though, and much of the rest of San Francisco’s receivers are either on rookie contracts (Ricky Pearsall, Jacob Cowing, Jordan Watkins) or short-term veteran accords (like Demarcus Robinson or recent acquisitions Skyy Moore and Marquez Valdes-Scantling). Funds could therefore exist for a Jennings raise on a new, multi-year 49ers pact depending on how negotiations progress.

Jennings, 28, comfortably set a new career high across the boards in terms of production last season, taking on a much larger workload while other wideouts missed time. Another notable role should be in store for 2025; it will be interesting to see a second straight strong season takes place, and if so whether or not a new 49ers commitment will accompany it.

49ers, WR Jauan Jennings Agree To Reworked Deal

September 3rd, 2025 at 9:26pm CST by Ben Levine

While Jauan Jennings recently returned to practice without a new deal, it sounds like the 49ers have found a solution for his discontent over his contract. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the two sides have agreed to a deal that will add $3MM in playing-time incentives to the player’s contract.

[RELATED: 49ers’ Jauan Jennings Returns To Practice]

Attached to a two-year, $11.89MM contract that expires at season’s end, Jennings was set to earn $7.5MM in 2025. Thanks to today’s move, Jennings can now earn up to $10.5MM.

A report from July indicated that Jennings was seeking either an extension or a trade, although neither option ended up coming to fruition. The 49ers made it clear all along that they intended to keep Jennings for at least the 2025 season, and per Schefter, the organization offered a multi-year contract extension to the receiver. Instead, Jennings decided to bet on himself and accept the incentive-driven one-year raise.

A former seventh-round pick, Jennings had a breakout season in San Francisco in 2024. As the 49ers navigated a number of injuries on offense, Jennings stepped forward and hauled in 77 catches for 975 yards and six touchdowns. The 28-year-old has also earned a reputation as one of the league’s best blocking WRs; Pro Football Focus ranked him first in run blocking and 13th in pass blocking last season.

With Deebo Samuel no longer in San Francisco and Brandon Aiyuk still recovering from a torn ACL and MCL, the 49ers will be especially reliant on Jennings in 2025. While Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle will still command plenty of Brock Purdy‘s targets, the rest of the team’s receiver depth consists of former first-round pick Ricky Pearsall, recent veteran addition Marquez Valdes-Scantling, rookie Jordan Watkins, and former Chiefs draft pick Skyy Moore.

If Jennings is able to maintain his play from last season, he could be setting himself up for a lucrative contract as a 2026 free agent. The rest of the current positional free agent class includes the likes of Mike Evans, George Pickens, and Jakobi Meyers.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/3/25

September 3rd, 2025 at 8:11pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s practice squad moves:

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

New England Patriots

Philadelphia Eagles

  • Signed: CB Eli Ricks
  • Released: OL Hollin Pierce

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tennessee Titans

  • Released: DL Isaiah Raikes

The Ravens added a notable special teamer to their taxi squad today, agreeing to a deal with veteran J.T. Gray. The 29-year-old spent his entire professional career with the Saints before getting cut by the team last week. The majority of Gray’s playing time has come on special teams, where he’s earned three All-Pro nods for his efforts. As Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic notes, the veteran will likely see a role in Baltimore, as the team is still looking to fill holes left by a handful of departed core special teamers this past offseason.

To accommodate the addition of old friend Gabe Davis to the practice squad, the Bills had to get a bit creative. Temporarily, the team has released veteran safety Jordan Poyer, but the former Buffalo starter shouldn’t be gone for long. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston, Poyer is expected to rejoin the Bills practice squad once Davis is placed on the taxi squad injured list.

The Lions landed on a third-string quarterback after holding an audition earlier today. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reports that the team has signed C.J. Beathard to the practice squad. Beathard worked out for the team earlier today alongside Nathan Peterman. Beathard has only started one game since garnering 12 starts for the 49ers between 2017 and 2020. He split last season with the Jaguars and Dolphins without getting into a game. In Detroit, he’ll serve as a third-stringer behind Jared Goff and Kyle Allen.

NFL Minor Transactions: 9/3/25

September 3rd, 2025 at 7:52pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s list of minor moves consists of players removed from injured reserve via injury settlements:

Chicago Bears

Cincinnati Bengals

  • Released from IR: OT Caleb Etienne

Miami Dolphins

  • Released from IR: Bayron Matos

New York Giants

  • Released from IR: Jermaine Terry

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Minor NFL Transactions: 9/2/25

September 2nd, 2025 at 7:55pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are today’s minor moves as we inch a day closer to the start of the regular season:

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Cleveland Browns

New Orleans Saints

San Francisco 49ers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

  • Waived (with injury settlement): CB JayVian Farr, CB Roman Parodie

The 49ers are doing a bit of shuffling in their receiving corps, calling up Valdes-Scantling from the practice squad and cutting Gage. According to multiple sources, it’s believed that Gage will be immediately signed back to the team’s practice squad to remain with the team.

Haener was brought back to the active roster in New Orleans after being waived at the roster cut deadline. The Saints had three quarterbacks, with Iowa Western rookie practice squad passer Hunter Dekkers, but adding Haener gives the team a bit more experienced depth, if only barely, in what may be the league’s youngest quarterbacks room.

Kendrick Bourne To Visit Commanders, 49ers

September 2nd, 2025 at 4:20pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

September 2: The 49ers did make a formal offer to Bourne, per NBC Sports’ Matt Maiocco, but he opted to explore his options with the Commanders. Bourne is visiting Washington on Tuesday, where he may be seeking a stronger deal than what San Francisco had in mind.

August 28: Kendrick Bourne was one of PFR’s release candidates in June, and the Patriots made that move during final roster cuts after hosting the veteran wide receiver for the last four years.

A reunion with the 49ers quickly became a possibility with general manager John Lynch, who signed Bourne as an undrafted free agent in 2017, confirming the team’s interest. The 30-year-old is now set to visit San Francisco, as well as Washington to meet with the Commanders, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Bourne made the roster as an undrafted rookie before carving out a rotational role in 2018. He only averaged just 25.3 receiving yards per game across his first three seasons in San Francisco before a 49-catch, 667-yard season boosted his stock in a contract year. San Francisco opted to bet on their ascending offensive talents and let Bourne walk. He eventually signed with New England, though injuries contributed to declining production and his eventual release.

A return to San Francisco could position Bourne for early-season snaps with Brandon Aiyuk on the PUP list, Jacob Cowing on IR, and Jauan Jennings uncertain for Week 1. The 49ers believe in 2024 first-rounder Ricky Pearsall to take a second-year leap, but veteran Demarcus Robinson is the team’s only other reliable depth. Though Kyle Shanahan‘s system has evolved since Bourne’s first stint in his offense, there should still be some familiarity that would allow a quick re-acclimation.

The Commanders, meanwhile, seem like a less obvious fit. They got Terry McLaurin back on the practice field after his extension, and Noah Brown has joined him after dealing with an undisclosed injury. They also have Deebo Samuel and young depth in Luke McCaffrey and Jaylin Lane, though Bourne would be an offensive upgrade over special teams ace Chris Moore.

Bourne has agreed to a potential contract framework with both teams, per Rapoport, suggesting that a deal could come together relatively quickly.

Minor NFL Transactions: 9/1/25

September 1st, 2025 at 8:43pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

NFL teams are continuing to make minor roster moves as the regular season approaches. On Monday, four clubs released players from their injured reserve lists with an injury settlement. Players who land on the IR without a return designation have to remain there for the entire season, but those with a chance to recover often seek injury settlements so they can return to the field that season. The settlements pay a portion of the player’s salary, typically based on the amount of time the player is expected to miss, while freeing up cap space for the team during the season.

Houston Texans

Los Angeles Chargers

  • Removed from IR with injury settlement: S Jaylen Jones

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

  • Removed from IR with injury settlement: LB Wesley Steiner

49ers’ Jauan Jennings Returns To Practice; No Agreement On Contract

September 1st, 2025 at 4:57pm CST by Sam Robinson

A year after signing a modest extension as a restricted free agent, Jauan Jennings nearly reached 1,000 yards. He then saw Deebo Samuel traded and Brandon Aiyuk land on the reserve/PUP list. A push for better contract terms has commenced, but Jennings remains tied to the deal he signed last year.

Attached to a two-year, $11.89MM contract that expires at season’s end, Jennings will be expected to start for the 49ers this year. Understandably, the sixth-year veteran has tried to procure a better deal as another season with a starter’s workload is on tap. While the 49ers do not intend to resolve this matter with a trade, it does not sound like negotiations are dead in the water.

[RELATED: Recapping 49ers’ 2025 Offseason]

But the team must now begin preparations for Week 1. Decimated at receiver thanks to the injuries to Aiyuk and Jacob Cowing accompanying the Demarcus Robinson suspension, the 49ers have made a few moves — in adding Skyy Moore, Russell Gage and Marquez Valdes-Scantling — while their Kendrick Bourne workout commenced today. Jennings also returned to practice, per The Athletic’s Matt Barrows.

Jennings, 28, had been out for more than a month with a calf injury. That malady surfaced shortly after his contract push became known. Players have used injuries as de facto hold-in measures during a CBA that makes holdouts difficult to wage. Kyle Shanahan, however, said Jennings had not formally requested a trade and ultimately expected him to play in Week 1. It seems that is on track to happen, as the 49ers will have Jennings teaming with 2024 first-round pick Ricky Pearsall as their top wide receivers against the Seahawks.

Even if Jennings returns for Week 1, his contract situation will be one to monitor. The 49ers may be leery about a second notable WR deal after ending the monthslong Aiyuk saga with a $30MM-per-year deal. Jennings is not a candidate to land a contract on that level, but the 49ers also paid Brock Purdy this offseason and handed out third contracts to George Kittle and Fred Warner. San Francisco’s budget may not include a significant Jennings raise, which would make this a pivotal year for the former seventh-round pick.

With Pearsall and ex-Arizona State teammate Aiyuk in place as the 49ers’ long-term weapons alongside Kittle, Jennings — absent an extension — will be a player to monitor ahead of the 2026 free agency period. With 2026 set to be Jennings’ age-29 season, he may have one real chance to cash in. And even that might bring an age-driven discount. For now, Jennings will be a crucial part the 49ers’ offense — particularly while Aiyuk is sidelined due to a longer ACL recovery timetable.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 8/29/25

August 29th, 2025 at 8:26pm CST by Ely Allen

NFL teams continue adjusting their practice squads as we close in on the regular season:

Dallas Cowboys

Green Bay Packers

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

Los Angeles Chargers

Miami Dolphins

  • Signed: S Jordan Colbert

New England Patriots

New York Giants

Philadelphia Eagles

San Francisco 49ers

Tennessee Titans

Anderson cleared waivers after being cut and can now be assigned to the 49ers’ practice squad. The reason San Francisco can add two while only dropping one from a full practice squad is because Zierer is from Munich, Germany, qualifying him to be a part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program. While practice squads are capped at 16 players, teams can keep a 17th player if they are a part of the IPPP.

WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling Chose 49ers Over Steelers

August 29th, 2025 at 9:29am CST by Adam La Rose

Following his Seahawks release, Marquez Valdes-Scantling became one of the top receivers on the open market. A deal sending him to the 49ers’ active roster was quickly worked out.

As a result, the veteran deep threat is in position to handle a role right away with a San Francisco team in need of healthy options at the receiver position. Valdes-Scantling had interest from other suitors, though. The runner-up in his market turned out to be the Steelers.

“It was between here and Pittsburgh,” Valdes-Scantling said during his introductory press conference (video link). “Obviously, I have a great relationship with Aaron Rodgers over there, and he wanted me back over there. So, it was a toss-up, 50/50, and I had to weigh my options and see which one I wanted to do, which was going to be better for my career at this point, and I was excited about it.”

Rodgers and Valdes-Scantling played together for four years in Green Bay. It comes as little surprise the Pittsburgh quarterback attempted to engineer a deal given his previous efforts to reunite with former Packers teammates. The Steelers have long been connected to a potential receiver addition this offseason, and their ongoing interest in Gabe Davis points to Pittsburgh looking for a vertical threat in particular.

Instead of reuniting with Rodgers for 2025, Valdes-Scantling will look to carve out an immediate role in San Francisco. The 49ers will be without Brandon Aiyuk and Jacob Cowing for at least the first four weeks of the season. Demarcus Robinson will be sidelined until Week 4 due to suspension, and it remains to be seen if Jauan Jennings will be available for the season opener. A short acclimation period will be in store, but Valdes-Scantling noted a familiarity with the 49ers’ scheme based on his time with Klint Kubiak in New Orleans last year and Seattle this summer. Kubiak’s brother Klay is San Francisco’s offensive coordinator.

The Steelers are set to move forward with a WR room led by trade acquisition D.K. Metcalf and returnees Calvin Austin and Roman Wilson. Davis is still unsigned, and especially with Valdes-Scantling turning down the opportunity to head to Pittsburgh it will be interesting to see if the team pursues a deal on that front over the coming days.

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