Deebo Samuel of the San Francisco 49ers left the game against the Cleveland Browns with a shoulder injury and was ruled out for the rest of the game.
X-rays on Samuel’s injury were negative, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, and the wide receiver will get an MRI. According to NFL Insider Jordan Schultz, the injury is “not considered to be serious.”
In 2023, Samuel, 27, has caught 20 catches for 302 yards and one touchdown and ran for 84 yards and one touchdown on 16 carries.
Samuel had an injury-shortened season last year, missing four or more games.
With a hamstring injury, the former South Carolina star sat out a late-October game against the Los Angeles Rams. After being tackled during a run during the team’s 35-7 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Dec. 11, he missed three games with an MCL sprain and an ankle sprain. Samuel was carried off the field following the injury, which appeared to be season-ending.
Thankfully, it was not the case, and he was able to play in the 49ers’ final regular-season game against the Arizona Cardinals.
In 2021, Samuel was the team’s undisputed star, amassing 1,770 yards from scrimmage and 14 touchdowns while leading the team to the NFC Championship Game.
With Christian McCaffrey now completely integrated into the scheme, the 49ers have probably the best skill-position talent in football, due to him, Samuel, tight end George Kittle, and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk.
Brock Purdy has also demonstrated that his 2022 breakout was no fluke. He had thrown for 1,271 yards and nine touchdowns against zero interceptions in five games.
Losing Samuel is undoubtedly a setback for San Francisco, but McCaffrey and Aiyuk should keep the offense afloat in his absence.
