Kyle Shanahan had hoped that wide receiver Deebo Samuel would take part in Thursday's practice. He didn't. However, the San Francisco 49ers head coach isn't willing to rule his leading receiver out of Sunday's game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Samuel was inactive this past weekend against the Seattle Seahawks as he continued recovering from a groin strain. When will the 49ers know more about the wideout's potential availability? Will it be a game-time decision?
"I think we'll have a good idea, hopefully after tomorrow," Shanahan said on KNBR's Tolbert, Krueger & Brooks show. "He didn't go today. He's doing stuff on the sides. So, he's getting his conditioning and work and stuff. We just don't want him competing against guys because we want to give him as many days to where he feels good. But if he's competing against a guy, and he does one step too hard, that's how you reinjure it.
"He's doing all his stuff on the side, looking good so far. But hopefully, he can get into practice tomorrow and show he's able to go. But yeah, it won't be until tomorrow, at the earliest."
Friday's practice is the last of the week before the 49ers travel to the East Coast for Sunday's game at Paul Brown Stadium.
You can listen to the entire conversation with Shanahan below.