This year, Samuel has just 553 receiving yards and two total touchdowns (one receiving, one rushing) through 12 games, making it unlikely he will reach the 900-receiving-yard milestone again. On Monday, Samuel responded to criticism about his performance in a now-deleted social media post, deflecting blame for his lack of production.
"Not struggling at all just not getting the ball!!!!!!!" Samuel wrote.
On Tuesday morning, 49ers general manager John Lynch joined Bay Area radio station KNBR to address the perception of Samuel's struggles.
Lynch acknowledged that the 49ers' unique use of Samuel over the years has been mimicked by other teams, leading to defenses better adapting to defending those types of versatile players.
"I think people are becoming more familiar with it," Lynch said. "Deebo's a really good football player. He's created such a high standard for himself that, I think, frustration mounts. But he's made so many plays for us.
"I think we've got to give this guy some grace and bring him along because we need him the rest of the way. We're going to need him Thursday night."
The 49ers face a quick turnaround following Sunday's victory over the Chicago Bears. They'll host the Los Angeles Rams at Levi's Stadium on Thursday night, aiming to even their record at 7-7.
"Deebo's a big part of this team, and we're all right," Lynch continued. "We can all learn from situations, and a lot of different things in the world these days that you can get caught up in, but I think Deebo's in a good place from the way he's working, and we've got a lot of football to be played, and he'll be a big part of our season moving forward."
You can listen to Lynch's entire interview below.
Related News
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
49ers' John Lynch addresses futures of Brandon Aiyuk and Mac Jones
San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch joined The TK Show with Tim Kawakami and discussed the futures of two key players—Brandon Aiyuk and Mac Jones. Recent reporting revealed that the 49ers voided Aiyuk's guaranteed money for 2026, a move many viewed as signaling an... -
49ers practice and media schedule ahead of Week 15 matchup vs. Titans
The San Francisco 49ers will hold four full practices this week as they prepare for their Week 15 matchup against the Tennessee Titans. The schedule includes a bonus Monday practice as the team returns from its bye week. Head coach Kyle Shanahan, defensive coordinator Robert... -
John Lynch downplays 49ers' run-game concerns
While Christian McCaffrey continues to deliver a remarkable season for the San Francisco 49ers—totaling 1,655 scrimmage yards and 13 touchdowns—questions remain about the team's overall rushing efficiency. McCaffrey is on pace for his second career season surpassing both... -
49ers' John Lynch casts doubt on Brandon Aiyuk's return this season
The San Francisco 49ers have long expressed optimism about wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk returning to the field this season. That optimism appears to be fading. During a Tuesday morning interview on Bay Area radio station KNBR, general manager John Lynch was asked whether it's...