How many wins would the 49ers have this season if they didn’t have Jauan Jennings? Two or three?

At 5-7, their season has been a huge disappointment. But without Jennings, it would have been a nightmare, because he has become the no. 1 wide receiver on the team. He currently leads the team in targets (70), catches (50) and receiving yards (684).

How did Jennings become Purdy’s go-to guy?

“I think he does a good job with using his frame and creating separation with just how big he is,” Purdy said this week. “And he’s a guy that I feel like has actually got some underrated speed. And it may not look like that, but he really does. He gets up on guys quick and gets out of cuts pretty well. And his radius for the ball and stuff is really good. So, definitely trusting him. He’s an easy guy, as a quarterback, to see, run his routes as a target, know where he is going to be and just give him a chance and he’ll come down with it. And so, we’ve definitely grown in that area but would like to continue to get him more targets and get him the ball whenever we can, in the right matchups, in the right situation.”

Notice that Purdy repeatedly mentioned Jennings’ big frame and that he’s easy to see from the pocket. Remember, Purdy is relatively short for a quarterback so it’s no wonder he tends to throw to taller receivers such as Jennings and Kittle.

The 49ers should keep that in mind when they draft receivers in the future.

Why the 49ers Wanted Brock Purdy and Deommodore Lenoir to Speak

It’s nice to see Shanahan empower two young players with the season on the line.

Dec 8, 2024; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) looks to throw a pass against the Chicago Bears in the first quarter at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images / Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images

By now, you’ve probably heard that Brock Purdy and Deommodore Lenoir both spoke to their teammates at a team meeting on Saturday night.

But here’s why they spoke: Kyle Shanahan asked those two specifically to address the team. They didn’t volunteer. Shanahan volunteered them. And he hadn’t asked any player to speak at a Saturday night team meeting in quite a while, so this was a big deal.

“Just trying to change it up,” Shanahan said Monday on a conference call with Bay Area reporters. “Sometimes I’ll have somebody speak differently and just to switch up the routine a little bit. But I just, when you ask guys to speak, you want to make sure it’s guys that people truly respect and they respect how they play and how they carry themselves and how important the job is to them. And those are two guys who, we’ve got a number of guys like that on our team, but those two guys, I just know how much our team respects them on and off the field.”

Here’s why players respect Purdy and Lenoir: they’re two of the best players in the league at their respective positions, they put in the work and don’t coast on talent, and they’re accountable. Which means they’re everything Deebo Samuel hasn’t been this season. Samuel is a captain and supposedly a leader. But Shanahan didn’t ask him to speak.

It’s nice to see Shanahan empower two young players with the season on the line.

49ers QB Brock Purdy: “I Want Deebo to do Deebo Things.”

This past Sunday, they scored 38 points even though he caught just two passes, which led Samuel to post on X that he’s not getting the ball enough.

Dec 8, 2024; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) looks on after the game against the Chicago Bears at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Kupbens-Imagn Images / Bob Kupbens-Imagn Images

Deebo Samuel isn’t having a Deebo Samuel season.

He used to be a go-to guy in the 49ers offense. Now, he’s just one of the guys. Both Jauan Jennings and George Kittle have surpassed him in the pecking order of receivers. He’s a third option at best. And the more the 49ers try to get him the ball, the worse their offense performs.

This past Sunday, they scored 38 points even though he caught just two passes, which led Samuel to post on X that he’s not getting the ball enough.

This week, Purdy was asked about his relationship with Samuel.

“Deebo and I talk all the time and he’s like one of my best friends on this team,” Purdy said. “I absolutely love Deebo and what he’s done for me and helping me out. We talk all the time. Yeah, I think he’s right. He’s doing great right now with what we ask of him in the offense. And he is not struggling or anything. It’s just, like I’ve said before about guys like Ricky Pearsall or last year with Brandon Aiyuk for a little bit. There’s just moments, I guess, throughout seasons where guys just don’t get the ball, just depending on like scheme or what the defensive scheme is and them taking guys away. So, I want to get Deebo the ball every play if I could. I want to have him break all the records as best as possible. I want Deebo to do Deebo things and we all do in this building. So, that’s just how the games have gone. But I love my guy and I’m going to do everything I can to give him the ball.”

Purdy was being diplomatic. I expect he’ll get the ball to Samuel early this Thursday night to make him feel involved. But I doubt he’ll catch more passes than Kittle or Jennings. Those two are just better than him.