The San Francisco 49ers are fighting for the top playoff seed and are looking to win out. Individually, the players are close to cashing specific incentives in their contracts.
Wide receiver Kendrick Bourne needs one receiving yard, and he’ll earn another $500,000. Jauan Jennings, after battling through multiple injuries, still has a strong chance to hit every escalator in his contract. He checked one box last week after scoring two touchdowns.
Jennings has an escalator where, if he scores six touchdowns,
he earns $666,667. Here’s a look at the rest of Jennings’ escalators and incentives in his deal:
50% snaps: $1.5M – $666,667
60 receptions: $666,667
600 receiving yards: $666,666
15 games: $2.4M
49ers make the playoffs, and Jennings plays at least 35 offensive snaps in a playoff game: $600,000
Jennings has a fantastic opportunity during the next month to hit every one of these. He’s played 67 percent of the snaps so far this season. Jennings has 44 receptions for 495 yards. So in the final three games, he needs 16 receptions and 105 yards.
Jennings has been a focal point of the 49ers’ passing game all season. The receptions might be more difficult than the yards, but it’ll be close. Assuming Jennings appears in the final three games, he’ll also cash the $2.5 million incentive, having appeared in 12 games.
Lastly, the 49ers could clinch a playoff berth as early as this weekend. The team could clinch before they take the field on Monday night. Jennings has surpassed 35 snaps in every game this season. The lowest he’s played in a game was 41, twice, due to circumstances against the Texans and the Cardinals.
If all goes well during the next month, Jennings has a chance to hit every escalator and incentive.
