The San Francisco 49ers currently hold a 30-24 lead over the Dallas Cowboys on “Sunday Night Football,” yet starting wide receiver Deebo Samuel suffered a rib injury in Week 8 and is questionable to return.
Here’s the latest on Samuel’s status as the 49ers continue to deal with injuries on offense.
What Happened to Deebo Samuel?
Prior to suffering a rib injury, Samuel had eight total touches for 86 total yards against the Cowboys on Sunday night. While it’s unclear when Samuel suffered the injury, the 49ers listed him as questionable to return due to the injury.
San Francisco is already dealing with the absence of Christian McCaffrey, Brandon Aiyuk, and Jauan Jennings. Samuel was spotted on the sideline smiling with his teammates, but he did not have his helmet.
Samuel appeared to haul in a long touchdown against the Cowboys in the second quarter, yet it was called back due to a holding penalty.
DEEBO SAMUEL TOUCHDOWN CATCH CALLED BACK BECAUSE OF A HOLDING CALL BY THE 49ERS pic.twitter.com/p5W0H4jNhL
— Arye Pulli (@AryePulli) October 28, 2024
Potential Fantasy Fallout From Deebo Samuel’s Injury
If Samuel is forced to miss a significant amount of time, rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall will be a player to watch in fantasy football. Pearsall immediately had a 39-yard rush following Samuel’s exit from the game on Sunday night.
Pearsall is putting together a strong performance against the Cowboys in Week 8, as he has five total touches for 77 total yards. Given his rushing attempt, Pearsall is likely the biggest beneficiary of Samuel’s absence.
If Jennings is able to return in the coming weeks, he’ll likely be the top wide receiver in San Francisco, although Pearsall will still be valuable. The 49ers could also opt to make a move at the trade deadline to add depth at wide receiver as well.