San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel did not practice on Wednesday, the team's first of three practices this week in preparation for this weekend's NFC Championship Game against the Detroit Lions. Samuel suffered a shoulder injury during the recent playoff game against the Green Bay Packers, forcing him to exit the matchup and not return.
On Wednesday, Samuel was seen working with trainers on a side field during practice, which was viewed as a positive sign that the receiver might be available for Sunday's game.
According to head coach Kyle Shanahan, Samuel will rejoin his teammates for Thursday's practice session, albeit as a limited participant.
When asked how much Samuel's shoulder has improved, Shanahan simply stated, "Enough to be limited."
This week, quarterback Brock Purdy discussed the impact Samuel has on the 49ers offense, saying, "I think he's probably the best playmaker in this league. You get the ball in his hands, he can do whatever he wants. [He] makes guys miss, breaks tackles, he's strong, he's tough, he's got grit, and we all feed off it. So Deebo definitely gives us some juice and energy and momentum on our offense."
The 49ers will release their official practice participation report this afternoon.