The 49ers have a roster teeming with star players, but every NFL team needs its role players to step up, and arguably no player has done a better job of doing so for San Francisco than wide receiver Jauan Jennings.

Jennings, the 2020 seventh-round pick, has consistently excelled in the clutch for the Niners after spending the first year of his career on the practice squad.

Over the last two seasons, Jennings has caught 17 passes on third and fourth down that have gone for first down. That is a tally only George Kittle has matched in that span.

Jennings' most significant contributions in a 49er jersey came down the stretch in 2021. He made a key 25-yard reception in overtime in a road win over the Bengals and, in a must-win Week 18 game with the Rams, caught two touchdown passes. He also made a 34-yard reception in overtime of a thrilling victory.

He also enjoyed some big moments last year. Jennings had three receptions for 33 yards on the decisive scoring drive in a one-possession win over the Chargers and caught the only touchdown in a 13-0 defeat of the Saints.

That was his only touchdown of the 2022 season, a massive drop-off from the five he caught in 2021, and Jennings, preaching the value of hard work in an interview with The Athletic in which he preached the value of hard work, expressed a desire to get back in the endzone more often in the final year of his 49ers contract.

Jennings said:

“First and foremost, I want to score a lot of touchdowns. I want to get into that paint. I want to experience a lot more touchdown celebrations and with that comes winning games as well and eventually topping it off with a Super Bowl ring."

Jennings' best avenue to scoring more touchdowns would seem to be as a red-zone threat. While he is an underrated route-runner who can use his 6ft 3in and 212-pound frame to create separation and has shown an ability to create after the catch, it is the advantage his size gives him at the catch point that is arguably his greatest asset.

Yet opportunities for Jennings in the red zone have been few. Last season, Jennings was targeted only three times inside the opposition's 20-yard line compared to 16 for Kittle, 15 for Aiyuk and 13 for Samuel.

It may take a lot of hard work for him to narrow that gap. However, Jennings caught nine of his 12 catchable targets across the final five weeks of the regular season with Brock Purdy as starter.

That suggests a decent rapport with the quarterback who is set to be the starter in 2023. If they do continue to show a good understanding and Jennings succeeds in turning his red-zone opportunities into points, the 49ers will have greater incentive to re-sign him and find a role for him for 2024 and beyond.

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