San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel will have surgery today after suffering a Jones fracture of his left foot on Tuesday, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. The injury occurred during a player-organized practice at the Brentwood Academy, just outside Nashville, Tennessee.
#49ers WR Deebo Samuel suffered a broken foot on Tuesday during a throwing session with teammates in Nashville and will be having surgery today, I'm told. It is a Jones fracture, and he should be able to be on the field early in the season.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 18, 2020
Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo has been organizing the throwing sessions this week with players unable to enter team facilities or meet face-to-face with coaches amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The team had been conducting the practices at San Jose State but moved them to Tennessee to include more players.
Samuel had been training this offseason in Houston, Texas, but made the trip to Tennessee to take part in this week's workouts with other receivers and the 49ers quarterbacks.
Dr. Robert Anderson will perform Samuel's surgery in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Rapoport reported on NFL Network. The NFL insider also reported a more significant recovery time than what is typically expected.
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"He should miss between 12 and 16 weeks," Rapoport added. "So Samuel, who was primed for a huge 2020, his sophomore season, still has plenty of time to make an impact, should be able to be on the field early this coming season."
Samuel posted the following on Twitter after the news broke.
We gone be straight 🙏🏾❤️ https://t.co/MXjbojzvKU
— UnoCaptain‼️❌ (@19problemz) June 18, 2020
Samuel was indeed expected to have a breakout sophomore season after proving to be an explosive weapon for head coach Kyle Shanahan during his rookie campaign. He caught 57 receptions for 802 receiving yards and three touchdowns through 15 regular-season games in 2019.
Samuel added 10 receptions for 127 yards through three playoff games, including a five-catch, 39-receiving-yard performance against the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIV.
The injury is similar to the one suffered by wide receiver Trent Taylor last year. Taylor missed all of last season after suffering multiple complications after his surgery, so a lot rides on today's procedure for Samuel.
A 12-week recovery would put Samuel's return around the second week of September. A 16-week timeline would push that to October. Samuel, however, is optimistic that he will return before the start of the 2020 regular season.
#49ers WR @19problemz posted the following on Instagram. He is optimistic he will be ready before the start of the regular season. pic.twitter.com/WuRJqKCSn0
— 49ers Webzone (@49erswebzone) June 18, 2020