The San Francisco 49ers have plenty of marquee names on offense — from quarterback Brock Purdy to Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle, plus emerging playmakers like Ricky Pearsall.
But time and time again this season, it’s one of the most overlooked guys in the huddle who keeps showing up with the kind of plays that swing games.
That would be wide receiver Jauan Jennings.
Jennings delivered a brutal, no-nonsense impact performance in the 49ers’ 37–24 win over the Tennessee Titans, helping San Francisco improve to 10–4 with another statement offensive outing.
Purdy was sharp all afternoon, finishing 23-of-30 for 295 yards and three touchdowns (no interceptions), and Jennings was right in the center of the finishing blows — scoring two touchdowns on just three catches for 37 yards.
After the win, Purdy’s message was clear: Jennings’ impact is bigger than the way people talk about him, and the 49ers should make sure he’s paid accordingly.
“I still can’t believe how much value we get when he’s on the field,” Purdy said in a tone that sounded more like admiration than hype. “Every time he’s out there, something good happens. He’s tough, he’s dependable, he’s smart — and he makes the plays that matter most. Honestly, he deserves to be paid what he’s worth.”
It’s pretty much become a pattern at this point: Jennings doesn’t need 10 targets to change a game — he just needs the moments that matter.
Against Tennessee, his two scores came on touchdown grabs of 4 yards in the first quarter and 13 yards early in the third — the kind of routes where timing, trust, and toughness matter more than flash. And while the stat line looks “quiet,” the scoreboard didn’t: Jennings turned limited opportunities into two end-zone statements.
Meanwhile, the rest of the offense was humming:
- Pearsall: 6 catches, 96 yards
- Kittle: 8 catches, 88 yards, 1 TD
- McCaffrey: 22 carries, 73 yards, 1 TD
- Purdy rushing: 7 carries, 44 yards
As a team, San Francisco piled up 430 total yards, held the ball for 37:05, and converted 9-of-15 on third down — the exact blueprint they want heading toward the stretch run.
And the contract conversation? That’s what makes this storyline feel inevitable.
Jennings is producing like a core piece — he’s up to 7 receiving TDs on the season — and he’s done it as a tone-setter: blocking, bailing out plays, and catching touchdowns when defenses tighten up. He’s already under contract through 2025, but performances like this push him into the category every contender has to address: priority extension territory.
Because when the game gets tight and the play has to be finished, Purdy keeps looking for the same kind of player.
And Jennings keeps answering.
