After an impressive 2024 season that saw them reach the NFC Championship game, the Washington Commanders have stumbled out of the gate in 2025. A myriad of injuries has plagued the team, contributing to their early struggles and raising questions about their ability to compete.
With the NFL Trade Deadline approaching on Tuesday, November 4, Washington might be looking to make a move to salvage its season.
Why Might the Commanders Trade for a Receiver?
Currently sitting at 3-5 and in third place in the NFC East, the Commanders are seeking reinforcements on offense to combat their extensive injury list. Star wide receiver Terry McLaurin has already missed four games with a quad injury and remains out for Week 9. The receiver room is further depleted, with Noah Brown also being out due to injury. Additionally, the backfield took a major hit when running back Austin Ekeler was placed on season-ending injured reserve after Week 2, and quarterback Jayden Daniels has missed three games himself.
This difficult situation has fueled speculation that the team will acquire help. PFSN predicts that the Commanders will trade for San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings. While San Francisco is dealing with its own injury problems at the position, a trade remains possible due to a reported trade request from Jennings.
“While the San Francisco 49ers, who already have issues with injuries at the wide receiver position, were probably shocked to hear Jauan Jennings wants to be traded,” said PFSN writer Josh Weil. “With Brandon Aiyuk returning soon, if they wanted to grant his request, they wouldn’t be totally handcuffed, but they would likely bring in another player at the position if they did.”
Before the 2024 season, “Jauan Jennings signed a 2 year, $15.39M total value contract with San Francisco that replaced a previously offered $4.89M restricted tender,” according to Spotrac. Now in the final year of that contract, he was reportedly seeking an extension throughout the 2025 offseason.
In six games this season, the 28-year-old receiver has caught 18 of 36 targets for 218 yards and one touchdown. According to PFSN’s 2025 wide receiver impact rankings, Jennings ranks as the No. 72 wide receiver with a 64.3 (D) score.
A former seventh-round pick, Jennings has spent his entire five-year NFL career with the 49ers. His time in San Francisco was highlighted by a career year in 2024, where he set personal bests across the board with 77 receptions on 113 targets for 975 yards and six touchdowns.
Acquiring Jennings would provide Daniels with another weapon on the outside. The move would give Washington a much-needed replacement for McLaurin during his absence and add another formidable receiver to the offense upon McLaurin’s return to the field.
What Would a Jauan Jennings Trade Mean for San Francisco?
The 49ers have also been devastated by injuries in 2025, but have managed to stay afloat with a 5-3 record, trailing the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks by just half a game for first place in the NFC West.
The team is already stretched thin at wide receiver. Rookie Rickey Pearsall has not played since suffering a knee injury in Week 4, and star Brandon Aiyuk is still recovering from the torn ACL and MCL he suffered in 2024.
In their absence, Kendrick Bourne has picked up some of the slack, catching 28 of 39 targets for 429 yards. However, it has been running back Christian McCaffrey who has shouldered most of the offensive load. McCaffrey ranks third in the NFL with 74 targets, second in receptions with 70, and ninth in receiving yards with 559. He also leads the team in rushing and trails only Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor in total carries.
San Francisco did get some good news when star tight end George Kittle returned to the lineup in Week 7 after missing five games with a hamstring injury. He figures to take on a larger target share if the team were to trade Jennings.
If a deal happens, the 49ers would likely look to acquire another wide receiver. Players like Rashid Shaheed, Chris Olave, Brandin Cooks, Jakobi Meyers, Allen Lazard, and Calvin Ridley have all been linked to trade rumors.
With Pearsall and Aiyuk expected to return this season, it may be unlikely that San Francisco makes a huge splash. Instead, the team could look for a player to handle a heavy snap share in the short term before shifting to a secondary role once the roster is back at full strength. As the NFL Trade Deadline approaches, the situations involving Washington, San Francisco, and Jennings will all be worth monitoring.
