Bhan-🔥 49ERS SIDELINE FIRE: Jauan Jennings finally breaks his silence after that heated exchange with head coach Kyle Shanahan 😳🏈
The San Francisco 49ers’ injury-weary season encountered a fresh setback in Week 6, resulting in a 30-19 road loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before 62,411 fans. Amid the team’s struggles, wide receiver Jauan Jennings was at the center of an on-field confrontation with head coach Kyle Shanahan.
The sideline confrontation occurred late in the first half with San Francisco trailing 20-16. Reports indicate that Shanahan confronted Jennings after a play in which teammate Demarcus Robinson dropped a pass, but later redeemed himself with a 31-yard reception. The exchange escalated quickly, requiring intervention from the team’s sideline staff and Shanahan’s security detail to de-escalate the situation.
When asked about the incident after the game, Jennings said, “Ask him,” (h/t Vic Tafur of The Athletic).
Shanahan, meanwhile, gave more than a two-word response.
“It was just an intense, competitive conversation between two people at the end of the second quarter, but we’re good,” he said.
Jennings played through significant injuries, including ankle, shoulder, and rib issues, even revealing after the game that he was carrying five broken ribs. As a result, the 28-year-old’s contributions were limited, catching only one pass for seven yards on three targets. He also committed a false start to start the second half and drew two penalties, exceeding his single reception for the game.
Before Sunday, Jennings had started three games this season, collecting nine receptions for 129 yards and one touchdown. On the season, he now totals 10 catches for 136 yards and a touchdown.
Jennings is in the final year of a two-year, $15.4 million deal signed in May 2024, with incentives potentially boosting his 2025 salary to $10.5 million. He requested a trade during the offseason, leaving his future with the team uncertain, a situation the team later resolved. After a career-high 77 receptions for 975 yards and six touchdowns last season, Jennings’ role has expanded. However, injuries and limited practice time, having participated in only two full sessions since the regular season began, have affected his performance and may impact his free agency value.
The 49ers roster has been decimated by injuries. Starting quarterback Brock Purdy missed Sunday’s game as he continues to recover from a toe injury, and defensive stars Nick Bosa (torn ACL) and Fred Warner (broken and dislocated ankle) are out for the season. Brandon Aiyuk, Ricky Pearsall, and George Kittle have also been dealing with injuries.
Despite this, San Francisco has maintained a 4-2 record. They will take on the Atlanta Falcons on “Sunday Night Football” in Week 7.
Pats Second-Year Player Named Dark Horse Candidate For MVP
The New England Patriots have four wins through six weeks of the 2025 NFL season, tying their wins from the last two seasons.
New head coach Mike Vrabel has helped the team to a 4-2 record and is currently at the top of the AFC East division, putting the team in a prime position to win the division for the first time since the 2020 season.
Quarterback Drake Maye has seen major improvement from his rookie season, as he has yet to throw under 200 yards in a game this season.
While it is still in the first half of the season to make any concrete predictions for awards, one NFL writer believes Maye’s name should be put on the list.
Drake Maye Named MVP Candidate
Drake Maye was sitting on the bench while Jacoby Brissett was the starting quarterback during his rookie season.
Now, as the undisputed starter in his second season in Foxborough, Maye is looking like what was advertised from the 2024 NFL Draft. The former North Carolina Tar Heel has thrown for 1,522 yards and 10 touchdowns for the Patriots this season.
FanSided’s Justin Carter names Maye as a dark-horse MVP candidate entering Week 7 of the 2025 NFL season.
“There were plenty of people who thought 2025 would be a breakout season for Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, but there’s also a big, big gap between ‘breakout’ and ‘MVP candidate.’ Maye leading his team to a 4-2 start and beating the [Buffalo] Bills on the road? That might be a little outside of our original expectations,” Carter wrote. “Despite working with a questionable crew of receiving options, Maye has completed 73.2 percent of his pass attempts this season, with his lowest weekly completion percentage being 65.2 percent against the [Las Vegas] Raiders in the season opener.”
“He’s thrown 10 touchdowns to just two interceptions, with his touchdown rate going up and interception rate going down compared to his rookie year… Is some of this because the coaching staff has schemed up easy throws for Maye? Sure — his 6.8 air yards per attempt rank just 30th in the league. Still, he deserves credit for executing on the plays.”
Head Coach On His Quarterback
Drake Maye is in the top five in most passing yards this season and is cementing himself as the next franchise quarterback.
Head coach Mike Vrabel was asked about Maye’s week-by-week improvement by a reporter, with the coach having faith in his QB’s ability to perform.
“Still some things to work on and improve there. But I think that there is a high level of confidence in the guys that he’s throwing to. Ball placement, decision making, timing, all those things, accuracy, that are critical. And so those are things that we’re continuing to see,” Vrabel said, via the Patriots website.
There are other players ahead of Maye in the MVP conversation, but if he can continue to put up good performances for New England, he could find himself as one of the top candidates for the award.
