The 49ers tried to bring Jauan Jennings back, but the move never got off the ground because the receiver didn’t want to leave Minnesota.
Jay Glazer reported on FOX Sports on Nov. 1 that San Francisco and the Vikings had already worked out trade terms to send Jennings back to the 49ers. The final step was Jennings approving the deal during a FaceTime call with Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch. That approval never came.
“He said, ‘Actually, no, I want to stay here in Minnesota,'" Glazer added.
Jennings began his NFL career with San Francisco after the 49ers took him in the seventh round in 2020. Over five seasons with the team, he built up a steady role and put together a strong 2024 season with 77 catches for 975 yards and six touchdowns, then followed it with 55 receptions for 643 yards and nine touchdowns in 2025.
He signed a one-year deal with Minnesota this season and has played in five games for the Vikings, catching four passes on eight targets for 43 yards.
The interest from San Francisco makes sense given the state of the receiver room and Jennings’ familiarity with the organization. Trade chatter around him has been around all year, and The Athletic’s Jonathan Jones reported that the 49ers have also been “sniffing around for wide receiver help,” with the Nov. 10 deadline approaching.
The need is real for Brock Purdy, especially with Mike Evans (Achilles tendinitis), Deebo Samuel (hamstring), Demarcus Robinson (ankle) and De’Zhaun Stribling (ankle) all expected back at different points after the Week 8 bye. Jennings would have been a clean fit, but for now he appears set on staying with the undefeated Vikings.
There’s also the possibility that this story isn’t over if both teams meet in the playoffs.
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The 49ers have developed a familiar pattern over the years: a player leaves in free agency or via trade, spends time elsewhere, then eventually finds his way back to San Francisco. Dre Greenlaw, Deebo Samuel, Kendrick Bourne and DeForest Buckner are among the notable names in that group, a list that says as much about the organizations appeal as it does about the realities of roster building in the NFL.
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Stribling is expected to return in December, but he has yet to appear in a regular-season game, so the team still has limited evidence on how quickly he can handle a meaningful workload. If the 49ers make a move for a receiver, it would be a strong hint they are not counting on him to step into a major role immediately, which would make his eventual return even more interesting to watch. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Trade Deadline Focus May Be Changing In A Big Way
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The more realistic path now looks like adding support on defense off the edge or shoring up the offensive line if the right deal surfaces. For a team trying to balance immediate needs with draft-pick preservation, that kind of pivot makes sense, even if it means the loudest deadline buzz around another receiver may never get much traction. [Read more 🡒]