The San Francisco 49ers are locked in contentious contract negotiations with wide receiver Jauan Jennings. He wants a new contract, and his recent calf injury has some thinking he may not actually be injured at all.
Niners general manager John Lynch was asked about a timetable on Jennings' return but he did not provide one. San Francisco Standard reporter David Lombardi noted that it is odd the 49ers have not given a timetable on his return since they have done that with most of their other injured players.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan was asked about Jennings' calf injury and whether or not it may be business-related and he gave a fairly curt response, saying, "You can ask him that, but he tells me it’s the calf and the calf shows."
Kyle Shanahan was asked if Jauan Jennings calf issue is injury or business related:
“You can ask him that but he tells me it’s the calf and the calf shows.” pic.twitter.com/5UOJ1dSskx
— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) August 4, 2025
Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch's comments suggest Jauan Jennings' injury may be a phantom one
This would not be the first time a player seeking a new contract has used a negotiation tactic like this. The fact that both Lynch and Shanahan have been somewhat cryptic or curt with their responses on the matter make one wonder whether this is an instance of Jennings ghosting the Niners with a phantom injury.
Of course, it is possible that everything is completely on the level and Jennings really is dealing with a calf issue. If he is, that complicates San Francisco's wide receiver situation even more as they are having to deal with a number of injuries as well as potential suspensions. They may be forced to go out and sign some other options if that is the case.
If Jennings is unable to go in Week 1, whether due to a contract standoff or a legitimate injury, that would make Ricky Pearsall the top receiver on the depth chart. After him would probably be rookie Jordan Watkins and maybe the veteran Russell Gage after him. In short, it is not a pretty picture.
One hopes that Jennings and the Niners can reach some sort of agreement prior to the start of the season because they really do need him out there at wide receiver. He knows that, which is why it would make sense if he is employing this calf injury as a negotiation tactic.
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