SANTA CLARA — In his heart, Jauan Jennings believes that one day he’ll be “the guy” and the target of a much greater percentage of passes from his quarterback.
But with the 49ers looking more and more like a potential Super Bowl team, Jennings is far too caught up in what he can do as a complementary piece on a team with no shortage of eligible receivers.
“I like to win. That’s my main focus, my main goal,” Jennings said Thursday. “I want what a lot of people aren’t able to do, and that’s (to) be the last one standing at the end of the year. I don’t let the numbers get too much in my head but it creeps in sometimes. When that happens, you’ve just got to refocus.”
With an offense that features runner/receiver Christian McCaffrey as well as wideouts Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel and tight end George Kittle, Jennings would barely be noticed by the fan base if not for his production on third down.
At that point, it’s “third and Jauan,” a time when he has caught 39 of his 76 career receptions for 475 yards and two touchdowns and 32 first downs. At 6-foot-3, 212 pounds, Jennings is a willing and enthusiastic blocker — a prerequisite for any receiver in coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense — but his ability to block and occasionally catch obscures what his skill set has done for the 49ers.
While Jennings appreciates the trust on third down, he makes it clear he’s not interested in being “pigeon-holed” into a specialist.
Jennings has been conspicuous in each of the 49ers’ last two wins, a 42-19 road win in Philadelphia and a 31-13 Thanksgiving win in Seattle. The 49ers (10-3) host the Seahawks (6-6) again Sunday at Levi’s Stadium.
An under-the-radar sixth-round draft pick out of Tennessee in the same 2020 NFL Draft that landed Aiyuk in the first round, Jennings enters his restricted free agent year as the No. 3 wide receiver who has earned a reputation for clutch catches and revelling in the dirty work.
“Jauan, he’s one of a kind,” Shanahan said. “Watch him on run plays. He does those plays like he does third-and-7 when there’s three guys trying to tackle him. He’s on another level in terms of confidence, energy. The only person who holds Jauan back is us.
“That’s why when we come to him, whether it’s every few games or a bunch in one game, he always seems like he’s going to rise to the occasion and make one of the most important plays in the game.”
Jennings scored on an 18-yard pass from Brock Purdy — on third-and-5 of course — to put the 49ers up 35-13 with 10:50 to go in Philadelphia. He finished with three receptions for 44 yards.
In the previous win over Seattle, Jennings turned a hopeless checkdown into a first down that kept a touchdown drive alive as the 49ers took a 14-3 lead. On third-and-7, Purdy threw short and to his left to Jennings, who proceeded to break tackles from four different Seahawk defenders to move the chains.
Can’t stop third and Jauan 😤
#SFvsSEA on @SNFonNBC
NFL+ // https://t.co/KTh0i4oaLh pic.twitter.com/iipXhUiqDL— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) November 24, 2023
Purdy, saved from the indignity of a third-down pass short of the stake, could only watch in amazement.
“I threw the ball and I just watched and you start to see him make guys miss and keep going,” Purdy said. “He finds a way to get the first down somehow, some way. He’s got some dog in him, he’s got some fight, and we feed off it. J.J. brings a lot of joy and drive to this team, more than people know.”
Asked how he did it, Jennings shrugged his shoulders.
“I saw where they were coming from and who was going to hit me and just based it off that and angles,” Jennings said.
McCaffrey, whose embraces football in a way that goes far beyond simply running with the ball and catching it, said Jennings’ value is considerable.
“He’s such a good player, man,” McCaffrey said. “Deebo and Brandon get so much limelight and credit, but when you look at what he does — not just with the ball in his hands but blocking — he’s such a special player and very difficult to replace. He’s a tone-setter. He’s a guy you love to have on your team.”
With Samuel getting big money and Aiyuk entering his fifth-year option and due for an extension, it remains to be seen whether both will remain in 2024. If one were to depart, Jennings could become more of a priority target. The 49ers remain under control of his contract in a restricted free agent year.
None of which has Jennings concerned with a potential championship on the horizon.
“I just love run blocking,” Jennings said. “I get to do that a lot. I try to go out and be the best in that. If I do get the ball thrown my way, it’s a plus. Everyone knows we’ve got a lot of great guys on this team and I understand that. Whenever my number comes, I’ll be ready. One day, I’ll get lots of reps, lots of targets.”