SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- For the first time in 36 days, San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings participated in practice Monday.
The Niners held their "bonus" practice in the morning as they begin preparations for Sunday's season opener against the Seattle Seahawks. And when they did, they were about as healthy as they've been all offseason. Five players -- Jennings, guard Dominick Puni (knee), defensive tackle Kalia Davis, receiver Russell Gage Jr. (knee) and defensive lineman Yetur Gross-Matos (knee) -- were back to practice.
But Jennings' return was perhaps the most urgent. Since departing from the team's fourth practice of training camp July 27 with a calf injury, Jennings has rarely been seen on side fields and has taken part in zero padded practices.
In addition to the calf injury, Jennings has been seeking a lucrative long-term contract extension. Niners general manager John Lynch said last week that Jennings requested a trade "a while ago," but the GM made it clear that the team had no desire to deal the receiver and was expecting him back on the field once his injury healed.
Though Jennings did not speak to the media Monday -- the team says he will talk later this week -- his teammates were happy to have him back.
"When a player is going through stuff like that, you just kind of let them go through it with the team," left tackle Trent Williams said. "I think everybody in their career is going to have a [contract] standoff or battle of some sort. ... Obviously, Jauan is a hell of a player, one of our best players on the team. So, having him out there is really important."
Jennings' return is the strongest indication yet that the sides have moved past their contract stalemate and the trade request. As of Monday afternoon, the Niners and Jennings had not struck any sort of modified or extended contract, according to a source.
Jennings is entering the final season of the two-year deal he signed in 2024. He is scheduled to count $4.258 million against this season's salary cap with more than $8 million in dead money remaining from lingering void years.
Throughout camp, there has been speculation that Jennings' absence was more contract-related than because of injury, though Lynch said last week that "both things can be true."
If Jennings gets all the way back and is able to play this week, it will be critical for a Niners receiving corps that has been hit hard by injury. Jennings was the team's most productive wideout in 2024, posting 77 receptions for 975 yards and six touchdowns, all career highs. The Niners also consider Jennings an elite run blocker for his position.
"He's my favorite player on the team," Puni said. "We just love him as an O-line and obviously as a receiver catching the ball. He is one of the best in the league too, but his run game ability is so fun to watch. He just dominates people."
With Jennings and Gage back practicing, the only player on the active roster missing Monday was rookie Jordan Watkins. The rookie is still dealing with a high ankle sprain and has been seen running on the side recently.
The 49ers also hosted free agent receiver Kendrick Bourne at the facility Monday. If the Niners deem Bourne healthy and sign him, they'll have to make a corresponding move to open a roster spot. He is scheduled to visit the Washington Commanders on Tuesday if he does not sign with San Francisco.
Beyond Jennings, Puni is the other surefire Niners starter to return to practice Monday. Puni suffered a right posterior cruciate ligament injury in the Aug. 16 preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Puni said Monday that he's "feeling a lot better," is "getting to full strength" and that although he had some rust to knock off Monday, he feels good about his chances to play against the Seahawks.
Having a nearly full complement of players available for the opener now seems like a real possibility for a team that not long ago was struggling to have enough bodies to get through normal practices.
"Having the guys that we plan to be here, having them there Week 1, [it's] definitely going to help," Williams said. "We're going to need it. We're going into the toughest environment in the league and no real warmup to it ... and having our guys back helps that a lot."