SAN FRANCISCO, California — Broad receiver Deebo Samuel of the San Francisco 49ers left the NFC divisional round playoff game against the Green Bay Packers due to a left shoulder ailment and uncertainty looms over the duration of his absence.
Samuel is set for further shoulder evaluations on the following day, and the 49ers are optimistic that his injury is not a recurrence of the previous hairline fracture suffered in Week 6 against the Browns.
Reportedly, Samuel reassured some team members that he was in good shape, according to sources close to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
“I’m uncertain at the moment,” stated coach Kyle Shanahan in response to Samuel’s injury. “He attempted to return but was unable to do so. I am aware he encountered a similar situation versus Cleveland.”
The 49ers’ 24-21 triumph over the Packers has propelled them into the NFC Championship Game scheduled for January 28 at Levi’s Stadium. When asked if there was a possibility of Samuel playing, a source told Schefter, “Yes, I believe so.”
After making a reception in the first quarter from 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy with 5:35 remaining, Samuel was tackled by multiple Packers defenders whilst attempting to gain more yardage.
Although initially evaluated for a concussion, Samuel was swiftly cleared to return to the game.
However, Samuel made multiple visits to the San Francisco locker room for additional shoulder examinations. He emerged in street clothing after returning to the locker room during the two-minute warning, and he did not return to the field for the second half.
Subsequently, Samuel’s comeback was officially ruled out. Shanahan highlighted that this was the second shoulder issue for Samuel in the current season. The prior shoulder ailment sustained against the Browns caused him to miss two games and the subsequent bye week. Samuel resumed play in a Week 10 victory against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
During the regular season, the 49ers’ offensive performance averaged 7.1 yards per play with Samuel’s presence. This figure decreased to 5.7 yards per play in his absence.
“Deebo is an exceptional football player,” declared tight end George Kittle. “He’s outstanding, especially in fulfilling the tasks assigned to him. Having Deebo alongside Christian McCaffrey and interchanging them sets our offense apart, making us unique in the NFL. Hence, am I concerned about his unavailability next week? Absolutely. We are a different team without Deebo.”
Before his departure, Samuel made two receptions for 24 yards. Due to Samuel’s absence, Jauan Jennings stepped into his position with Ray-Ray McCloud III operating as the slot receiver in Jennings’ typical role. It was Jennings who delivered the most notable performance in Samuel’s stead, concluding with five receptions for 61 yards on five targets, including several pivotal catches in traffic.
Jennings even had a carry that would normally have been attributed to Samuel, although Shanahan expressed that it was an unintended occurrence resulting from miscommunication.
“[Losing Deebo] alters a lot of dynamics, particularly when it involves wristbands and ad-hoc roster adjustments, which is a constant challenge for the players,” Shanahan stated. “This situation arose during the Cleveland game, and we did not handle it well. I believe we managed it better today than we did back then, but it presents a substantial challenge. Deebo is undeniably one of our premier players, but he occupies unique positions which demand continual adaptation throughout the game.”
