Each week, I present the Golden Nugget Award to a San Francisco 49ers player who had an outstanding game or managed to defy the odds. Week 4's award goes to third-year wide receiver Deebo Samuel. The other nominees for this week's award were quarterback Trey Lance for coming off the bench and displaying why the 49ers traded up to the No. 3 overall pick to draft him, defensive ends Dee Ford and Nick Bosa for showing dominance along the defensive line, and running back Trey Sermon for his 19 carries for 89 rushing yards against the Seattle Seahawks.
Samuel, whose real name is Tyshun, received the nickname Deebo, the name of the notorious bully from the movie "Friday," from his father Galen, because he always took things away from people as a toddler.
The 49ers lost the game against their NFC West rivals 28-21. However, Samuel had a dominant performance to solidify himself as one of the top receivers in the NFL.
Samuel set the tone before the game when he rode a beach cruiser to Levi's Stadium, dressed like the character "Deebo," who was played by the late actor "Tiny" Tommy Lister, who passed away on December 10, 2020.
Here comes Deebo 🚲@19problemz pays respect to the late Tommy "Tiny" Lister 🙏 pic.twitter.com/rDy52fxvqi
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) October 3, 2021
With the 49ers down 21-7 to the Seahawks in the third quarter, Lance found the third-year receiver for a 76-yard touchdown reception, making it a one-score game.
"I really didn't realize how open I was until I saw the ball coming at me live," Samuel said after the game.
DEEBO IS WIDE OPEN.
Trey Lance finds him for the 76-yard TD! #FTTB
📺: #SEAvsSF on FOX
— NFL (@NFL) October 3, 2021
📱: NFL app pic.twitter.com/9BRzRkYRNU
In the fourth quarter, with San Francisco down 28-13, the rookie quarterback led the 49ers on a 13-play, 80-yard drive, which ended with Samuel fighting his way into the end zone for an eight-yard touchdown. A two-point conversion by Lance made it a 21-28 game with 1:20 left on the clock.
Seattle recovered the ensuing onside kick, and with no timeouts left, the Seahawks ran down the clock and beat the 49ers.
Samuel dominated the game with 156 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Through four weeks, he leads the NFL with 490 receiving yards, is averaging 122.5 receiving yards per game, and owns three touchdown receptions.
The 2-2 49ers will travel to Arizona to play the undefeated Cardinals at 1:25 p.m. PT on Sunday.