Jauan Jennings, San Francisco 49ers
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(Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
Even with Brock Purdy throwing three interceptions, the San Francisco 49ers walked out of Levi’s Stadium with a 20-9 win over the Carolina Panthers on Monday night.
Christian McCaffrey kept the offense moving while Purdy searched for rhythm, piling up 89 rushing yards and a score along with 53 receiving yards on seven catches.
Jauan Jennings caught Purdy’s only touchdown pass, a 12-yard throw on the first drive, yet that early grab ended up being far from the moment people will remember most from his night.
With under three minutes left in the game,Moehrig landed a low blow on Jennings, prompting Jennings to hit Moehrig as the teams met for postgame handshakes.
After the game, Moehrig spoke with reporters to offer his side of the altercation.
“I mean, nothing ever dirty in my game has ever been like that unless it was earned, you know what I’m saying? I guess you could say,” Moehrig told reporters (h/tCarolina Blitz). “… It just manifested. Like I said, [Jennings] wanted to do some stuff after the play talking crazy. So that’s all it is… We ain’t got to share all [the details about what happened during the game]. But I guess that’s really all it is to it. There’s nothing else to this.”
49ers’ Jauan Jennings Also Sounds Off
Jennings didn’t hold back when asked whether the tension with Moehrig had been building throughout the game.
“Man, TV is going to tell you what happened,” Jennings told reporters after the win (h/tNBC Sports Bay Area). “I was justresponding, to me, to some childish behavior. That’s all it was.
“It was just out of nowhere. Like I said, just the history of me playing ball. I play hard. I’m physically stronger than lot of DBs out there, so a lot of things happen in between the whistle, at least with me.”
49ers’ Kyle Shanahan Reacts to the Altercation
Jennings has a history of on-field confrontations. Last season,he was fined nearly $12,000 for a fight in the 49ers’ Week 17 matchup with the Detroit Lions. Just a week later, the wide receiver wasejected for his role in two separate incidents against the Arizona Cardinals.
Although Jennings could facea suspension from the NFL for his actions, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan defended his player.
“The guy took a cheap shot and hit him in the balls,” Shanahan said postgame (h/t KNBR). “I was really proud of Jauan for not losing his mind out there and getting him to the sideline.”
After falling to theLos Angeles Rams on November 9, San Francisco bounced back with back-to-back victories. Still, entering Week 13, the Niners’ offense faces a tough test against theCleveland Browns‘ defense, even though Cleveland sits at 3-8.
In Week 12, the Browns put on a dominant performance against theLas Vegas Raiders, racking up 10 sacks. That means San Francisco will need to contend withMyles Garrett and the rest of the defense.
Nonetheless, the 49ers offense might have to prepare for the Browns game, likely knowing they won’t have Jennings to help Brock Purdy and the team’s passing game.