Who Should I Start? Richie James or Jauan Jennings

Saturday, July 19, 11:06 AM

Wide receiver Richie James announced on X on Friday that he is retiring from professional football. "It took time but i have come to realize I am retired from the NFL. Seventh round out of MTSU. I feel like I was just a ballplayer to last that long. Unfortunately, my knee never healed properly. I was playing hurt since 2022. Oh well. I gave everything I got to the game of football," James wrote. The 29-year-old was originally selected 240th overall in the seventh round by the San Francisco 49ers in the 2018 NFL draft out of Middle Tennessee State. He played the first three years of his career in the Bay Area before joining the New York Giants in 2022. James last played for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2023. He will finish his five-year career with 105 catches on 143 targets for 1,372 yards and seven touchdowns in 66 regular-season games (15 starts).

Tuesday, July 29, 2:59 PM

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings (calf) is "day-to-day" and his calf is "bothering him," according to the team's offensive coordinator, Klay Kubiak. Jennings left practice on Sunday due to the injury and also missed time with the same ailment earlier this offseason. The 28-year-old has also made it clear he wants a new contract, so his motivation to return to the field before an extension on his current deal is in place could be limited. Jennings had a breakout 2024 season, recording 77 catches for 975 yards and six touchdowns in 15 games. His presence in San Francisco's offense is made even more critical by the absence of Brandon Aiyuk (knee), who is expected to miss the start of the season as he recovers from a torn ACL. Jennings is competing with Ricky Pearsall to be the top target earner at wide receiver for the 49ers while Aiyuk is out, but a significant stretch of missed time could impact his spot in that race.