SEPTEMBER 29: Samuel is returning sooner than expected. As first reported by NFL insider Jordan Schultz, the 28-year-old wideout expects to play in the 49ers’ Week 4 contest against the the Patriots, and ESPN’s Adam Schefter subsequently noted that the team has the same expectation.
While Jennings had a monster performance in Samuel’s absence in Week 3 — catching 11 passes for 175 yards and three scores — San Francisco still lost the game, and the club will be happy to have the former First Team All-Pro back in the fold.
SEPTEMBER 16: The 49ers are down another offensive star. Receiver Deebo Samuel suffered a calf strain yesterday that will sideline him for several weeks, per ESPN’s Nick Wagoner.
[RELATED: 49ers To Place RB Christian McCaffrey On IR]
According to 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan, Samuel believes he suffered his injury late in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s loss. The 49ers only played a handful of additional offensive snaps before the game ended. It doesn’t sound like Samuel will require an IR stint, but Shanahan also hinted that this will be more than a one-game absence.
The 49ers were already operating without star RB Christian McCaffrey, with Samuel soaking up a handful of leftover snaps in the backfield (behind Jordan Mason). Samuel was naturally impressing in the receiving game, averaging 82 yards through his first two contests. That marked his highest average since his 1,405-yard receiving effort in 2021, and it was also a major step up from his 54.4 yards-per-game-mark between 2022 and 2023.
Attention will now turn to the team’s remaining offensive star in Brandon Aiyuk. The wideout is coming off a drama-filled training camp and preseason that included a hold-in and a trade request. That ended up culminating in the receiver earning a contract worth $30MM annually, and the fifth-year pro will now be called upon to help guide the team’s receivers. Through two games, Aiyuk has hauled in only six catches for 71 yards, and he had a notable dropped touchdown in Week 1.
With Samuel out, Jauan Jennings will likely see an uptick in playing time. The Super Bowl LVIII standout got into 38 offensive snaps yesterday, and he was the only receiver outside of Samuel and Aiyuk to see a significant role. Chris Conley and Ronnie Bell got into a combined 15 snaps, while Jacob Cowing didn’t garner an offensive snap. Rookie Ricky Pearsall will also eventually be inserted into the conversation, although there’s a good chance he’s back after Samuel.
Aiyuk can’t play an entire series without getting winded, deebo hurt, their 1st round wr got shot, cmc on ir. Purdy to kittle next week I guess
And just hope the defense doesn’t get annihilated. Mason will have to continue his remarkable running skills, Jauan will have to step up if Aiyuk horribly. I believe in this team though. Go niners!
Deebo getting hurt and missing games is as reliable as your alarm clock.
He’s really only missed significant time in his second year. Otherwise it’s a game or two, with some small time in other games
This is incorrect. Countless times he’s started a game but hasn’t finished them due to something happening. It’s what he does.
Sounds about Deebo lmao
the window is starting to close a little quicker on the niners
All these injuries around the league but no articles correlating the players who didn’t play in preseason games?
How is anyone truly surprised by any of this?
Ironically, Goodell and the owners are convinced that the situation will become much better once the league adds even more games to the schedule…lol.
The flip side is your franchise player goes down with a knee injury in a preseason games. Out for the year.
Bad news since Aiyuk won’t be good anymore now that he has his money.
Ok so if he’s out for a bit and CMC is too, that means my Cowboys might only lose by 10 points when we play them later this year.
Well, Kittle had 3 TD’s last year against them and he is still healthy so……..lol
Oh man. I forgot!!