San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel has been sidelined since sustaining a hairline fracture in his shoulder on October 15 against the Cleveland Browns. After returning to practice this week, he appears poised to make his comeback this weekend against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Reflecting on his time away from the game, Samuel told reporters before Thursday's practice, "Any time, not being part of the game is kind of hard, but I've kind of been there before. It's just a mental thing to get back and getting ready to play."
When asked about his current condition, nearly a month after his injury, Samuel responded, "Pretty good. Just taking it day by day, just getting ready for the game on Sunday."
Star running back Christian McCaffrey emphasized the significance of Samuel's presence on the field, stating, "It's huge. I think it compliments everybody, just having him on the field. He's such a threat whenever he has the ball. He can make maybe a play that looks like it's not going to work, go. And just having that confidence that he's out there means a lot to all of us."
There has been some talk about the 49ers playing tired in their most recent matchups, especially during their last game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Samuel noted that the team's energy levels have seen a boost since returning from their bye week.
"On Monday, it felt like day one of camp," Samuel stated. "Everybody was fresh, flying around fast. Yesterday, we had a great practice, and just feeding off of what we did on Monday."
After enduring three straight losses, San Francisco is determined to turn the tide this weekend in Jacksonville. Of course, overcoming adversity is nothing new for the 49ers. The team started last season with a 3-4 record. In 2021, it was a 3-5 start. Despite these challenges, the Niners made it to the NFC Championship Game in both seasons.
"Our backs have been against the wall the past two years," Samuel said. "We made the best out of that opportunity. But overall, we just want to get back to winning and just whatever it takes to get there."
