Kyle Shanahan comments on Jauan Jennings' ejection after 49ers receiver misses out on big milestone

Jauan Jennings missed out on the chance to post his first career 1,000-yard receiving season in the San Francisco 49ers' Week 18 loss to the Arizona Cardinals after he was ejected in the second quarter. And head coach Kyle Shanahan still isn't sure exactly why Jennings was tossed. Jennings was ejected with 6:34 remaining in the […]

Nicholas McGee
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San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings (15) talks with head coach Kyle Shanahan after being ejected in the first half against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium.
Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images

Jauan Jennings missed out on the chance to post his first career 1,000-yard receiving season in the San Francisco 49ers' Week 18 loss to the Arizona Cardinals after he was ejected in the second quarter.

And head coach Kyle Shanahan still isn't sure exactly why Jennings was tossed.

Jennings was ejected with 6:34 remaining in the second quarter following successive personal foul penalties.

Both flags came on plays where Jennings got into a scuffle with an Arizona player who disapproved of his trademark aggressive style of run blocking.

First Jennings got into it with Starling Thomas after the Cardinals corner took exception to being driven into the ground. Both players were flagged for offsetting penalties.

On the next play, Sean Murphy-Bunting flipped Jennings to the ground, with the resulting fracas seeing an official injured after being contacted, with the offsetting flags leading to both players being tossed. 

Shanahan quizzed Jennings and an official on his ejection as the Niners wideout left the field 25 yards shy of his the hallowed 1,000 mark.

But Shanahan is none the wiser as to why the officials decided to remove Jennings from the contest.

Asked why Jennings was ejected, Shanahan told his postgame press conference: "I'm not sure. He was competing. Jauan blocks to the whistle on every single play. I know you usually get ejected for throwing a punch or something, I didn't see one. He didn't tell me that he threw a punch so it's something we'll have to find out.

"I was asking him if he ever threw a punch, he was adamant that he didn't. I was like 'that's what I saw', so I was just surprised he got ejected."

Jennings appeared to take the bizarre turn of events well as he fired up the 49ers fans in the crowd upon leaving the field, but any frustration at missing out on 1,000 yards will likely be heightened next week, when another fine will probably come his way. Jennings was fined this week for a similar play in Monday's primetime loss to the Detroit Lions.

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