San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel stirred up conversation this week when he took to social media to address claims that he was struggling offensively. Instead of accepting the criticism, Samuel attributed his limited production to a lack of opportunities. On Monday, he posted on social media, “Not struggling at all just not getting the ball!!!!!!!” His comments sparked mixed reactions, with some critics accusing him of deflecting responsibility for not meeting expectations following his lucrative contract extension.
Samuel’s 2023 season has seen limited production, with only 553 receiving yards and two touchdowns so far. This is a far cry from his breakout 2021 season, and he’s on track to fall short of 900 receiving yards for the second consecutive year. Critics argued that his struggles were more about performance than opportunity, questioning whether he was living up to his contract.
On Tuesday, head coach Kyle Shanahan was asked about Samuel’s comments and if he had expressed frustration regarding his offensive role. Shanahan acknowledged their regular communication and expressed understanding of Samuel’s frustration. He noted that Samuel wants to help the team by getting the ball more, and while the 49ers would like to do that, it’s something they continue to work on.
Samuel later commented on his social media post, which he had deleted, saying, “You read what you read. I was frustrated for sure.” Despite this, Shanahan emphasized that Samuel’s frustrations hadn’t caused a disruption within the team. He also stressed the importance of addressing issues privately and not letting external noise get to players, although he sympathized with the challenges of dealing with social media criticism.
Shanahan further downplayed the significance of Samuel’s public remarks, calling them “water under the bridge” and reassuring the media that the situation wasn’t a distraction for the team. He acknowledged that players sometimes express frustration in ways that may not be ideal but maintained that internal communication between him and Samuel was ongoing and productive.
Quarterback Brock Purdy also chimed in on the situation, expressing his support for Samuel and his understanding of the wide receiver’s perspective. Purdy described Samuel as one of his closest friends on the team and praised his contributions. He agreed with Samuel’s point that limited opportunities were restricting his production, but emphasized that it was just a part of the game and not a reflection of Samuel’s abilities.
Purdy also shared his desire to get Samuel the ball more, expressing that he would love to see him break records and do great things on the field. He acknowledged that the flow of the game, defensive schemes, and other factors sometimes limit opportunities for players, but assured that he and the rest of the team were doing everything they could to get Samuel more involved.
