Nick WagonerSep 2, 2025, 05:35 AM

CloseNick Wagoner is an NFL reporter at ESPN. Nick has covered the San Francisco 49ers since 2016, having previously covered the St. Louis Rams for 12 years, including three years (2013 to 2015) at ESPN. In over a decade with the company, Nick has led ESPN’s coverage of the Niners’ 2019 and 2023 Super Bowl run, Colin Kaepernick’s protest, the Rams making Michael Sam the first openly gay player drafted to the NFL, Sam’s subsequent pursuit of a roster spot and the team’s relocation and stadium saga.

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — For the first time in 36 days, San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings participated in practice Monday.

The Niners held their “bonus” practice Monday morning as they begin preparations for Sunday’s regular season opener against the Seattle Seahawks. And when they did, they were about as healthy as they’ve been all offseason as five players — Jennings, guard Dominick Puni (knee), defensive tackle Kalia Davis, receiver Russell Gage Jr. (knee) and defensive lineman Yetur Gross-Matos (knee) — were all back to practice.

But Jennings’ return was, perhaps, the most urgent. Since departing the team’s fourth practice of training camp on July 27 with a calf injury, Jennings has been rarely seen on side fields and taken part in zero padded practices.

Editor’s Picks

2 Related

In addition to the calf injury, Jennings has been seeking a lucrative long-term contract extension. Niners general manager John Lynch said last week that Jennings did request a trade “a while ago” but made it clear the team had no desire to deal Jennings and was expecting him back on the field once his calf injury healed.

“He asked for it and we’ve moved on,” Lynch said last Wednesday. “We’re not doing that. So, we’re moving forward.”

Jennings jumped into drills like normal, leading the receiver group along with Ricky Pearsall. His return is the biggest indication yet that the sides are, indeed, moving forward. Jennings is now set to enter the final season of the two-year deal he signed in 2024. He is scheduled to count $4.258 million against this year’s salary cap with more than $8 million in dead money remaining from lingering void years.

Throughout camp, there has been plenty of speculation that Jennings’ absence has been more contract-centric than because of injury, though Lynch said last week that “both things can be true.”

If Jennings gets all the way back and is able to play this week, it would be critical for a Niners receiving corps that has been hit hard by injury. Jennings was the team’s most productive wideout in 2024, posting 77 receptions for 975 yards and six touchdowns, all of which were career highs.

With Jennings and Gage back practicing, the only receiver or player on the active roster missing Monday was rookie Jordan Watkins. Watkins is still dealing with a high ankle sprain and has been seen running on the side recently.

The 49ers will provide their first injury report of the season Wednesday.