The San Francisco 49ers expect to have wide receiver Deebo Samuel back for the playoffs. Head coach Kyle Shanahan has even expressed interest in having his star player get work in Sunday's regular-season finale against the Arizona Cardinals. However, Samuel isn't willing to return to the football field before he is confident he is completely recovered.
Does that mean we might not see the receiver play this weekend?
"Not necessarily trying to push [to play this weekend]," Samuel told reporters from the locker room ahead of Wednesday's practice. "I'm not going to risk myself. If I'm not 100 percent ready to go, I'm not going to go out there."
Samuel suffered MCL and ankle sprains against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on December 11. Initially, the injury looked much worse than it ended up being. Given that an emotional Samuel was carted off the field, most thought we might have seen the last of the receiver this season. That includes Samuel.
"I thought I was done," Samuel admitted. "I've never been in a position like that in my 15 years playing. It was kind of a scary scene, but just knowing that I came out of it is just crazy."
Samuel believes that the ankle surgery he underwent in college likely kept this latest injury from being worse.
"It kind of protected my left leg a lot," Samuel said. "But after getting the [MRI] results, I thanked God that I was able to come out of that and able to continue to play the game this year, and all praise to the most high."
49ers WR Deebo Samuel rips his 2022 performance: 'It was awful'
By Kirk Larrabee
Jun 6
Deebo Samuel made it clear Tuesday he's on a mission to erase all memories of his performance during the 2022 season, which he feels was nowhere near his previously established level of play.
The 49ers' standout wide receiver/running back addressed that performance during a press conference on Day 1 of 49ers mandatory minicamp. He did not hold back when issuing a critique of how things went for him in 2022.
"Oh, it was awful," Samuel said. "Every aspect."
Samuel, 27, caught 56 passes for 632 yards in 13 games last season while rushing for 232 yards and three touchdowns on 42 carries. There were moments on the field when Samuel certainly made his presence felt, but overall he fell short of making the type of impact he made in 2021, when he caught 77
Podcast: 49ers' Deebo Samuel out of shape last year, led to "awful" year
By Rohan Chakravarthi
Jun 6
Rohan Chakravarthi and Marco Martinez discuss the San Francisco 49ers minicamp, as well as comments from Deebo Samuel and other 49ers players.
The audio for the show is embedded above, while the video is available below.
You can listen to "The Rohan Chakravarthi Show" from our
49ers OL Spencer Burford poised for breakout season in Year 2
By Rohan Chakravarthi
Jun 2
On a team with as much talent as the San Francisco 49ers, there isn't always much space for rookies to carve out an immediate role, let alone be a starter.
That's why it was impressive that rookie Spencer Burford not only shined early, separating himself during organized team activities(OTAs), but took a starting role as a fourth-rounder.
However, Burford split in-season reps with veteran Daniel Brunskill in a season with ups and downs, questioning the 49ers' belief in his play as a rookie.
But, with Brunskill off to the Tennessee Titans in free agency, the path is clear for the UTSA product to carve out an everyday role in a potential breakout season for Burford during his second season.
Speaking with reporters for the first time this
49ers' George Kittle looking to avoid another early-season slump
By David Bonilla
Jun 7
George Kittle was inactive for the first two games of last season due to a groin injury. The San Francisco 49ers tight end averaged under 30 receiving yards in the two games following his return.
The production started to increase from there. The All-Pro tight end felt healthy toward the end of the season, amid a 12-game win streak (including the playoffs). That has carried into this offseason, which is significant for the player who often exits a season feeling the wear and tear on his body.
"It just allowed me to work the way that I wanted to work earlier in the offseason," Kittle told reporters on Tuesday. "Not to take so much time off to rehab and recover, do a bunch of treatments and stuff like that. I was actually just able to get a good foundation in,
