The San Francisco 49ers eked out a Divisional Round win over the Green Bay Packers on Saturday night, but wideout Deebo Samuel emerged from the game worse for the wear.
Samuel initially departed San Fran’s Round 2 contest in the first quarter to be evaluated for a concussion but returned after getting cleared. However, he left the game again in the second quarter after suffering a shoulder injury and never returned.
Will Deebo be available for this weekend’s NFC Championship Game against the Detroit Lions? Here’s the latest on the dynamic 49ers wide receiver.
Deebo Samuel Injury Update
Samuel already missed two games during the regular season — Weeks 7 and 8 — after suffering an injury to the same left shoulder.
However, Deebo had a hairline fracture in his shoulder at that time. Testing revealed no such fracture this time around, as NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported on Monday morning.
Samuel’s status is still up in the air, per Rapoport, who added that Samuel has been telling those around him that he thinks he’ll be able to play against the Lions on Sunday. San Francisco believes the fifth-year pass catcher avoided a significant injury.
But ESPN’s Adam Schefter offered a report that was a bit more dour, indicating that the 49ers view Samuel as a “50/50” shot to suit up in the NFC title game.
49ers consider it “50-50” as to whether wide receiver Deebo Samuel will be able to play in Sunday night’s NFC championship game vs. the Lions due to the shoulder injury he suffered vs. the Packers, per source. pic.twitter.com/25N9aDXvxd
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 22, 2024
Head coach Kyle Shanahan spoke to reporters on Monday afternoon and suggested the 49ers will be “patient” with Samuel’s recovery.
But after missing Wednesday’s practice, it was reported on Thursday afternoon that Samuel will be returning to practice as a limited participant.
While his status for Sunday is still unclear, his return to practice, even in a limited capacity, is a potential step in the right direction towards being cleared for the NFC Championship Game. With Samuel back, every player on the 49ers’ 53-man roster will be practicing on Thursday.
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Samuel has gradually ceded San Francisco’s WR1 role to Brandon Aiyuk, but the former second-round pick was still incredibly productive in 2023. He posted a 60-892-7 line as a receiver and added his usual contributions on the ground, taking 37 carries for 225 yards and five more scores.
Samuel will represent a loss if he can’t play, but the 49ers’ offense — No. 1 in efficiency and yards per play — has plenty of options to help make up for his absence.
Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle earned first-team All-Pro nods after dominant 2023 campaigns, while Aiyuk was a second-teamer after finishing fourth in yards per route run (2.81).
Jauan Jennings replaced Samuel in San Francisco’s starting lineup on Saturday and will do so again in the Championship Round if Samuel can’t go. While Jennings posted just 265 receiving yards this season, he hauled in five catches for 61 yards in the Divisional Round and is one of the NFL‘s best run-blocking wide receivers.
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