49ers’ Deebo Samuel returns to practice ahead of Raiders game; Nick Bosa also back

Deebo Samuel returned to practice on Thursday. The San Francisco 49ers wide receiver has not practiced with his teammates since sustaining MCL and ankle sprains against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on December 11. His return was expected but depended on how his Wednesday workout went.

The receiver's injury was initially thought to be worse, with Samuel needing to be carted from the field to the locker room for evaluation. However, he avoided a more severe prognosis.

The injury was not season-ending, and the expectation was that Samuel would be fine for the playoffs and could even return before postseason action begins. With the NFC West title already clinched, there is no sense of urgency to get Samuel back on the football field ahead of the playoffs.

The 49ers have two more regular-season games scheduled. They will face the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on New Year's Day and close out the regular season against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi's Stadium.

Defensive end Nick Bosa, who missed Wednesday's practice due to illness, returned on Thursday.