As miserable as it’s to ponder a legendary faceplant by the 49ers Sunday towards the Los Angeles Rams, contemplate how unhealthy it will be in the event that they hadn’t ponied up and signed their greatest receiver.
We’re not speaking about Brandon Aiyuk, who caught 5 passes for 48 yards and signed a four-year contract price $30 million per season within the days main as much as the season.
The man that mattered essentially the most was Jauan Jennings, the previous “Third-and-Jauan” who was a person for all downs with Deebo Samuel, George Kittle and Christian McCaffrey sidelined. Jennings had profession highs with 11 receptions, 175 yards and three touchdowns.
Jennings and quarterback Brock Purdy (22 of 30, 292 yards, three touchdowns) carried the 49ers’ passing recreation and each did sufficient to win. As a substitute, Purdy was standing on the postgame podium explaining the 49ers’ second consecutive loss and Jennings escaped the locker room with out speaking to reporters after the sport of his life.
Within the offseason, Jennings, a 2022 seventh-round draft decide, was a restricted free agent and the 49ers gave him a two-year contract price $15 million general with $8.4 million assured.
“Jauan was unbelievable,” coach Kyle Shanahan stated. “I think the numbers show it, but more than the numbers, he was a warrior the whole game. He’s always like that, but got a lot of opportunities today and was automatic on every single one.”
Jennings had landing receptions of 13 yards, 4 yards and 31 yards from Purdy, the final one giving the 49ers a 21-7 lead with 7:01 remaining.
His first landing got here on a wide-open play the place Aiyuk drew protection towards him.
Phrase on the road: He is nonetheless operating 😂 pic.twitter.com/Xoiv2qOIGL
“It started with B.A. backside, and J.J. sort of bluffed like he was blocking and slipped up the seam,” Purdy stated. “He was my second read and he was wide open. Great play call.”
Jennings did his most spectacular work when he wasn’t all by his lonesome. He one way or the other stole a ball from Quintin Lake for a 32-yard achieve that helped arrange the sphere purpose that put the 49ers up 24-13 with 11:57 left.
He made no less than two receptions the place he was surrounded by three defenders, with Shanahan saying afterwards he questioned in regards to the knowledge of even throwing him the ball.
“Even on some bad looks, when I didn’t know if the ball should go there, you quickly saw afterward they weren’t going to take the ball away from Jauan,” Shanahan stated. “He was very inspiring today with the way he played.”
He informed us he had these arms coated 🙌
📺 #SFvsLAR on FOXNFL+ // https://t.co/KTh0i4nCVJ pic.twitter.com/bWJnQ2UeYV
In response to Related Press stats maven Josh Dubow, solely three 49ers receivers have ever had a recreation with 10 or extra catches, 175 or extra yards and three or extra touchdowns. The opposite two — Jerry Rice and Terrell Owens — are within the Corridor of Fame.
Jennings caught his career-high 11 passes on 12 targets. His earlier profession highs have been additionally at SoFi Stadium as a rookie within the 2021 regular-season finale: Six catches for 94 yards with two scores, a 24-yard cross from Jimmy Garoppolo and a 14-yarder on a reverse from Samuel.
The 49ers celebrated that day, successful 27-24 in time beyond regulation to clinch a playoff berth.
It was the reverse of final season’s Tremendous Bowl towards the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, when Jennings seemed as if he may very well be the Most Invaluable Participant as the previous Tennessee quarterback threw a 21-yard landing cross to McCaffrey and caught a 10-yard cross from Purdy for a 16-13 lead early within the fourth quarter. The 49ers, after all, misplaced 25-22 in time beyond regulation.
“I absolutely love Jauan,” Purdy stated. “Just the way he comes in and sparks energy and his love for the game, you can feel it. You can see it. I’ll go to war with him every day of the week.”
As for Aiyuk, he now has 10 receptions for 119 yards with no touchdowns in three video games. It’s additionally price noting he has by no means had a recreation the place he caught 11 passes. By no means had a recreation the place he scored three touchdowns. By no means had a recreation with 175 yards receiving.
That’s to not say Aiyuk had zero impression towards the Rams, as a result of with Samuel, Kittle and McCaffrey all lacking, he was absolutely a focus of the Rams protection on extra performs than simply Jennings’ first landing. He was focused 10 occasions, only one fewer than Jennings.
Purdy stated he merely went the place the reads and progressions took him towards the Rams, and the place it took him somewhat than zeroing in on a particular receiver.
“I just think it comes with the opportunities you get in games with looks,” Purdy stated. “It’s not so I’m dropping back and saying, ‘We’re not ready yet, I’m not going to get him the ball.’ It has nothing to do with that. It’s, ‘What’s my read? Is it the right look here with B.A.?’ We’re scheming stuff up to give him a great position to win and get him the ball, but defenses are doing a good job of scheming some stuff, they get me off my reads and I go to other guys.
“We’re going to continue to work so we can get on the same page. I absolutely love B.A. He’s working really hard right now and I can tell you we’re going to continue to grow together.”
As if you happen to want additional proof of the form of chief Purdy is, contemplate how he dealt with a drop with 1:08 to play by second-year receiver Ronnie Bell that would have set the 49ers up for a game-winning area purpose.
“I don’t know if I had enough juice on it from where I was at in the pocket,” Purdy stated. “Just trying to give him a chance. Obviously I could give him a better ball and everything. He’s a young guy, I love him. We’ve all got Ronnie’s back, so we’re going to continue to need him and build him up and we’re all in this together. It’s a team sport. It’s not one play or player.”
Not normally anyway, though for a very long time Sunday it seemed just like the participant who made the largest distinction was Jauan Jennings.
