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BREAKING: 49ers Place Veteran WR on IR for a Slow-Healing Calf; He Pushes Back: “Cut My Pay If You Have To” — and It Hit Hard.

As the 49ers finalize their 53-man roster, the Jauan Jennings saga flares up again. Team decision-makers are weighing an injured reserve (IR) move because his calf hasn’t progressed as hoped. Jennings immediately pushed back, insisting he can be ready and wants to play with his teammates.

“I DON’T WANT AN IR TAG TO SIT AND COLLECT A CHECK — I BELIEVE I CAN BE READY. CUT MY PAY IF YOU HAVE TO; JUST GIVE ME THE CHANCE TO REHAB, SUIT UP IN THIS JERSEY, AND HELP THIS TEAM WIN.”

Tension has mounted: Jennings has been out since late July, while contract tweaks have stalled, frustrating both sides. From the football side, the staff is cautious—calf injuries are tricky—and they don’t want to gamble on Week 1 readiness. From the roster side, IR is a procedural lever: it frees a 53-man spot for an injury-hit roster while the club waits out Jennings’ recovery.

But IR is a double-edged sword. If placed on IR before final cuts, he’s effectively out for the season. If he makes the 53 and then is moved to IR, he’d be eligible to return after at least four games (subject to return designations). Financially, Jennings would keep his base salary but likely miss out on game checks/incentives tied to snaps and production.

The 49ers also know they’re thin at WR to start the year. Beyond the transactions and cap lines, Jennings’ WR3/big-slot role—third-down security blanket and run-game enforcer—matters to how the offense breathes on Sundays.

Why Jennings is resisting is plain: he believes he can be back soon and doesn’t want the IR label. The “CUT MY PAY IF YOU HAVE TO” line signals he values playing time over money right now—he’ll bend financially if it means he can practice and be activated.

Over the next 72 hours, several outcomes loom: a soft compromise that outlines a rehab ramp-up and gets him back at practice; an IR-after-53 move that preserves a return window; or, if signals remain negative, an immediate IR designation. Whatever happens, Jennings’ message rang clear in the building: he wants to fight, not sit.

Raiders Reunite with a Former Starter to Fortify the Offensive Line
Las Vegas, NV   The Las Vegas Raiders have brought back a familiar face in a move that screams both urgency and savvy: versatile offensive lineman Jermaine Eluemunor is returning to the Silver & Black on a one-year deal (terms not disclosed), reuniting with the franchise where he logged some of the best football of his career and immediately fortifying a position group that has been stretched thin. Eluemunor, 31, started for the Raiders from 2021–2023, showing rare position flexibility across right tackle and guard while anchoring pass protection against premier edge rushers. His technique, anchor, and ability to handle long-arm power made him a steadying force during multiple playoff pushes. After departing Vegas, Eluemunor spent time elsewhere refining his craft, but a confluence of roster needs and scheme familiarity has set the stage for a timely homecoming. For the Raiders—fighting to keep pace in a rugged AFC—this is about stability and fit. Injuries and week-to-week availability on the right side of the line have forced constant shuffling; protection packages have leaned heavily on chips and condensed splits to survive obvious passing downs. Eluemunor’s return allows the staff to plug him at RT or slide him inside at RG, restoring balance to protections and widening the run-game menu (duo, inside zone, and the toss/ pin-pull that Vegas fans love when the edge is sealed). “Jermaine knows who we are and how we want to play,” a team source said. “He brings ballast. Assignment sound, physical, and smart—he raises the floor for the entire unit.” Beyond the X’s and O’s, there’s an unmistakable emotional charge to this reunion. Eluemunor was a locker-room favorite in his previous stint—professional, detail-driven, and accountable. The belief internally is that his presence stabilizes communication on the right side (IDs, slides, and pass-off rules vs. games and simulated pressures), which in turn unlocks more vertical concepts and keeps the quarterback cleaner late in games. On social media, Raider Nation lit up the timeline with a simple refrain: “Welcome back, Jem.” Many fans called the deal the exact kind of “rival-poach, ready-to-play” move a contender makes in October: low friction, high impact, zero learning curve. What it means on the field (immediately): Pass pro: Fewer emergency chips, more five-out releases—OC can re-open deeper intermediate shots without living in max-protect. Run game: Better edge control on toss/duo; more confidence running to the right on money downs. Depth & versatility: One injury doesn’t force a cascade of position changes; Eluemunor can cover two spots with starting-level competency. The timetable? Swift. Because Eluemunor already speaks the language—terminology, splits, cadence rules—he could suit up as early as this weekend if the medicals/check-ins continue to trend positive. The message is clear: the Raiders aren’t waiting around for the line to gel—they’re engineering it. If Jermaine Eluemunor plays to his Raider résumé, this reunion could be the precise mid-season jolt that steadies the offense and keeps the Silver & Black firmly in the postseason race. Raider Nation, the question writes itself: Plug-and-play stopgap—or the catalyst that reclaims the right side