Despite Deebo Samuel arriving at 49ers minicamp, Trey Lance has not had the chance to work on his rapport with San Francisco’s top receiver. However, Lance has had ample opportunity to build a promising connection with a less-heralded receiver in Jauan Jennings, whose development could prove critical to the quarterback’s hopes of efficiently adapting to life as a full-time NFL starter.
Jennings, a seventh-round pick in the 2020 draft, emerged down the stretch last season as San Francisco surged to a 10-7 record with a run that took them to the NFC Championship Game.
He caught 24 passes for 282 yards and five touchdowns in 2021, with his breakout game to this point coming in Week 18 when the Niners clinched a playoff spot by beating the Rams 27-24 in overtime.
Jennings had six catches for 94 yards and two touchdowns in that thriller, saving his best performance for the most important game of the regular season.
Only four of Jennings’ 24 receptions last season did not result in a first down or a touchdown. Fifteen of his catches led to the 49ers moving the sticks.
In other words, Jennings was a reliable target who dealt almost exclusively in significant catches. The early signs from the offseason program suggest he could take on an even more important role in 2022.
The Athletic’s Matt Barrows described Jennings as San Francisco’s “most prolific receiver” on day one of minicamp, crediting him with three touchdown receptions in the red-zone drill.
Afterward, Jennings received praise from teammates and his head coach.
“He’s a great route-runner,” new 49ers cornerback Charvarius Ward said in Tuesday’s press conference. “He knows how to work his leverage. He does what the coaches tell him to do. He’s just a gamer. Once he puts on the helmet and straps those shoes on, he’s a good player.”
Kyle Shanahan echoed Ward’s sentiments about Jennings as a route-runner, praising the separation ability of a player of Jennings’ 6ft 3in and…
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