Jauan Jennings' NFL rank in receiving yards after 3 weeks will surprise everyone
The final score did not go how the San Francisco 49ers wanted it to on Sunday, as they collapsed in the late stages of a 27-24 loss to the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium.
But wide receiver Jauan Jennings put on an absolutely stunning display en route to the best game of his NFL career, albeit one that was overshadowed by the Niners' loss.
The former 2020 seventh-round draft pick out of Tennessee pulled down 11 catches on 12 targets from quarterback Brock Purdy for 175 yards and three touchdown receptions, including an incredible grab over Rams cornerback Quentin Lake late in the third quarter.
Jennings joined Hall of Famer Jerry Rice as the only player in franchise history to register 10 or more catches and 150-plus yards in a single game. Rice did it three times.
The 49ers needed all of those yards with running back Christian McCaffrey still on the IR, wide receiver Deebo Samuel nursing a calf strain, tight end George Kittle mending a hamstring injury, and fellow wideout Brandon Aiyuk still trying to get himself back into All-Pro form.
Jennings' offensive outburst catapulted him up the rankings for receiving yards so far in the 2024 season, as the wideout went from 101 total yards on the season to 276 yards, which leaves him at third in the NFL through three weeks.
The Niners' receiver is just behind Rashee Rice of the Kansas City Chiefs and the Houston Texans' Nico Collins, although Jennings has done his work on fewer catches than Rice and significantly fewer targets than both of the players ahead of him.
On top of that, Jennings is tied for the league lead in receiving touchdowns with the three he pulled in on Sunday serving as his only scores of the season so far. He is tied for that position with eight other receivers, including Chris Godwin of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Minnesota Vikings' Justin Jefferson and Jordan Nailor, and rookies Marvin Harrison Jr. of the Arizona Cardinals and Malik Nabers of the New York Giants.
Jennings' three touchdowns made him the first wide receiver in franchise history to catch three or more touchdowns in a game since Hall of Famer Terrell Owens did it in 2001 against the Atlanta Falcons.
NFL's top 5 in receiving yards through Week 3
- Nico Collins, Houston, 18 receptions for 338 yards
- Rashee Rice, Kansas City, 24 receptions for 288 yards
- Jauan Jennings, San Francisco, 18 receptions for 276 yards
- Justin Jefferson, Minnesota, 14 receptions for 271 yards
- Malik Nabors, New York Giants, 23 receptions for 271 yards
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