Deebo Samuel Sr. barely played for the San Francisco 49ers in Week 7 in their Super Bowl rematch against the Kansas City Chiefs. What’s going on with the Niners’ wideout?
What Happened to Deebo Samuel?
Samuel started Week 7 for the 49ers but played just three total snaps. He went to the locker room with 3:30 remaining before halftime and did not return.
Just before the start of Sunday’s game, San Francisco announced that Samuel was battling an illness but still expected to play. While he technically “played,” Samuel didn’t contribute in any meaningful way. He wasn’t targeted and did not receive a touch on any of his three snaps.
Instead, Samuel spent much of Week 7 on the sideline receiving oxygen and standing in front of a fan.
On Monday, head coach Kyle Shanahan revealed Samuel was in the hospital with pneumonia, as fluid is in his lungs. He also explained that Samuel had trouble breathing during the game, hence the reason for his departure.
Shanahan said Samuel's problem cropped up early Sunday morning, got worse and he went into the hospital Sunday night. Shanahan had said Samuel was having trouble breathing during the game, which is why he left the game in the second quarter. https://t.co/iVqYM00kHE
— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) October 21, 2024
Samuel also missed time earlier this season, sitting out Week 3 with a calf injury.
The 49ers were already without wide receiver Jauan Jennings, who was inactive after suffering a hip injury against the Seahawks. Jennings put up 11 catches for 175 yards and three touchdowns when Samuel was out in Week 3.
Making matters worse, 2023 All-Pro Brandon Aiyuk will be gone for the rest of the season after tearing the ACL and MCL in his right knee in Sunday’s loss. By the end of the game versus the Chiefs, the 49ers were down to four healthy receivers on their active roster: 2024 first-round pick Ricky Pearsall (who made his debut on Sunday), Chris Conley, Jacob Cowing, and Ronnie Bell.
Will Deebo Samuel Play in Week 8?
The good news is that Samuel was out of the hospital by Tuesday.
Good news: #49ers WR Deebo Samuel, who left Sunday’s game with a pneumonia-like illness, has been released from the hospital.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 22, 2024
This doesn’t mean that Samuel is in the clear, however. Wednesday will bring the first injury report of the week, and it wouldn’t be shocking to see Samuel as a DNP given the seriousness of his illness.
The good news is that Samuel has seemingly dodged a long-term problem that could keep him out for weeks. Whether or not he’s ready for Sunday will be determined by the practice reports later in the week.
Fantasy Impact of Samuel’s Illness
With Aiyuk out for the season, George Kittle dealing with his own foot sprain, and Jennings inactive in Week 7, there aren’t a ton of options in San Francisco’s passing game. As a result, this will likely be a very concentrated air attack on Sunday with how few healthy pass catchers the 49ers have.
The 49ers will host the rested Dallas Cowboys in Week 8 before taking their bye in Week 9. Is it possible that they elect to give Samuel an extended window to recover with the understanding that this team wants to peak in December/January, not October?
Pearsall was active for the first time in his career. He could offer some depth for San Francisco, but asking him to return much fantasy value is a long shot.
Jennings is the name to keep an eye on. If he was cut in fantasy when the 49ers returned to full strength, adding him would be a sharp move with the banged-up Cowboys not as intimidating of a matchup as you might assume.
— PFN Fantasy Analyst Kyle Soppe