San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel openly acknowledges falling short of expectations last season. In June, Samuel labeled his 2022 campaign as "awful." It's difficult to argue with that assessment, considering the versatile receiver was coming off a breakout season that earned him a substantial contract extension.
In recent weeks, Samuel has experienced a notable resurgence, amassing 347 all-purpose yards over the past three games. This comes after he returned from a hairline fracture in his shoulder that sidelined him for two games (three, counting the Cleveland Browns game, when he sustained the injury early).
What does head coach Kyle Shanahan attribute to Samuel's improved consistency?
"Just that he's come back and gotten healthy," Shanahan told reporters ahead of the 49ers' first practice of the week. "When Deebo's out there and can string together practices and weeks, it's a matter of time before the ball comes his way. I mean, nothing in particular that's been different than usual. I just think he's strung together a few more healthy weeks."
The coach doesn't necessarily believe that Samuel has recently elevated his performance. Instead, he believes his star player has been better able to seize opportunities.
"I think I said earlier in the year, I thought he had some of the best games the first couple of weeks, even at Pittsburgh, and the ball didn't just go that way," Shanahan explained. "And then he has some setbacks with his injuries, but he's been good here for a while, and it's [come] his way."
The San Francisco 49ers are gearing up to face the Baltimore Ravens in a Monday night showdown. Both teams currently top their respective conferences in the playoff standings, setting the stage for a highly anticipated late-season clash at Levi's Stadium.
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