The San Francisco 49ers improved to 5-0 with a 32-29 victory over the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, but the win came at a cost to an already thin receiving group.
Wide receiver Deebo Samuel left in the third quarter after injuring his right hamstring. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said Monday that Samuel is expected to miss at least a couple of weeks.
Samuel joins several other wide receivers already sidelined. Ricky Pearsall is out for the season after knee surgery. Demarcus Robinson is on injured reserve with a high-ankle sprain. De’Zhaun Stribling is also on injured reserve after ankle surgery. Christian Kirk remains on injured reserve with a calf injury that has kept him out since early in training camp.
The injuries have left the 49ers relying on a limited set of options at the position. Veteran Mike Evans has been the clear lead target. He has 24 receptions for 326 yards and three touchdowns through five games.
Behind Evans, the available receivers include Brandin Cooks, Jordan Watkins and Jacob Cowing. The group offers experience in Cooks but limited recent production from the others.
NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport suggested one possible solution during an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show.
“A name that I have been wondering about is Jauan Jennings… obviously came over from the 49ers. I expect his name to heat up a little bit over the next days and weeks. The 49ers lost Deebo for a couple weeks, so they make sense,” Rapoport said.
Jennings spent his first five NFL seasons with San Francisco before signing with the Minnesota Vikings this offseason. The Vikings agreed to a one-year deal that includes an $8 million base salary and can reach $13 million with incentives.
Through four games with Minnesota, Jennings has been used sparingly. He has two receptions for nine yards on five targets. He did not record a catch in the Vikings’ Week 5 win over the New Orleans Saints despite Jordan Addison missing the game.
The numbers mark a sharp drop from Jennings’ production in San Francisco. In 2024 he caught 77 passes for 975 yards and six touchdowns on 113 targets. In 2025 he added 55 receptions for 643 yards and a career-high nine touchdowns.
Jennings earned a reputation in Kyle Shanahan’s offense for reliable third-down work. He converted a high percentage of those targets into first downs or scores, leading to the nickname “Third and Jauan.”
A return to the 49ers would pair him again with quarterback Brock Purdy and the same offensive system. That familiarity could allow him to contribute quickly if a trade happens before the Nov. 10 deadline.
Minnesota has not indicated any desire to move Jennings. His limited role and the structure of his contract, which included a sizable signing bonus paid by the Vikings, could still make a deal attractive to both sides.
The 49ers host the Washington Commanders on Monday night in Week 6. Shanahan has not ruled out adding outside help at receiver before the trade deadline.
Any move would aim to stabilize a position that has absorbed multiple long-term absences already this season. The 49ers have managed the injuries so far, but depth remains a concern heading into the second half of the schedule.
