Is Deebo Samuel playing tonight vs. Seahawks on TNF?
Star receiver Deebo Samuel picked up an ankle and knee injury in last week's win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The do-it-all San Francisco 49ers player left the game and never returned. Ahead of Thursday Night Football's important divisional matchup, the question of his availability was immediately determined.
Although Samuel avoided surgery, the wide receiver was officially listed out for the Week 15 matchup. According to ESPN.com, the 49ers and head coach Kyle Shanahan expect their jack-of-all-trades player to be out for at least a few weeks. Samuel suffered a sprained medial collateral ligament injury and could "return at some point during the regular season."
#49ers game status vs SEA
OUT
QB Jimmy Garoppolo (foot)
DL Kevin Givens (knee)
DB Tarvarius Moore (knee)
DL Hassan Ridgeway (pec)
WR Deebo Samuel (ankle/knee)
CB Samuel Womack (concussion)
Questionable
DL Kerry Hyder (ankle)
QB Brock Purdy (oblique/rib)
CB Ambry Thomas (ankle)
Deebo Samuel has not matched last season's numbers but remains an integral part of the 49ers' offense
Due to injuries to the running backs, Deebo Samuel had a breakout season in 2021. However, with the addition of star running back Christian McCaffrey, injuries to two starting quarterbacks (Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo), and dealing with his own various injuries, the star receiver has not quite met last year's benchmark.
My apologies for stepping over the camera guy. Definitely didn’t realize I did it until watching the tape. Was just in the moment. My apologies my guy🤞🏾
In his fourth NFL season, Samuel has 54 receptions for 612 yards and 41 rushing attempts for 228 yards across 12 games. He only has five total touchdowns (2 receiving, 3 rushing) compared to 14 total touchdowns last season. Although his stats have regressed, the 49ers' own Swiss Army knife remains an important player in their offense, especially as the team looks to take the NFC West.
Despite losing both of their quarterbacks, the 49ers have a strong defense, and rookie quarterback Brock Purdy seems capable of steering the offense. He showcased his prowess in the Niners' spectacular 35-7 win over Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Los Angeles Rams are in the midst of the biggest Super Bowl hangover in NFL history. The Arizona Cardinals are about to proverbially blow up due to injuries and losses piling up. This leaves the surprising Seattle Seahawks as the 49ers' only threat in the division. For that reason, the team can afford to let Deebo Samuel rest until they really need him for a deep playoff run.