NFL Rumors: 49ers get major injury boost as San Fran sweats on Deebo Samuel's fitness
Deebo Samuel isn't out of the woods yet on his recovery, but the San Francisco 49ers are in strong need of some good news on the injury front, and it seems they may have received it ahead of Week 4. George Kittle appears to be on track to play on Sunday, although nothing official has been declared just yet.
On September 26, ESPN NFL reporter Nick Wagoner posted on X (formerly Twitter) that Kittle said he was "very excited to play football" and "feeling fantastic." While the report didn't include Kittle's full statement or a video, Wagoner's position as an on-site reporter for ESPN lends credibility to the claims.
Kittle has been dealing with a hamstring injury that caused him to miss Week 3, much to the disappointment of 49ers fans and fantasy managers. However, barring any setbacks, he appears to be trending toward playing. Wagoner noted in another post that he has been limited in practice this week.
Despite the positive outlook, there has been no indication of him getting his usual snap count. It will ultimately be up to Kyle Shanahan to decide if he wants to ease George Kittle this week or if he needs every bit of his tight end. With the 49ers sitting at 1-2 at the bottom of the NFC West, the pressure to use Kittle is likely to be high.
49ers still expected to miss four offensive pieces against the Patriots including Deebo Samuel
The San Francisco 49ers are down several pieces going into the Week 4 matchup against the New England Patriots. Deebo Samuel is listed as doubtful, despite a report claiming that he is at practice. Fans can hope that he is available for the opponent following the Patriots, but this week it is quite unlikely to see him on the field.
Christian McCaffrey is also expected to miss many more games as his calf-turned-Achilles situation continues to be treated. Wide receivers Ricky Pearsall and Jacob Cowing are also on the injury report. Pearsall is expected to be out, but Jacob Cowing has a chance to see the field. That said, he is battling an illness that might keep him out on Sunday.
Offensive lineman Jon Feliciano is also on the injury reserve and is expected to miss Week 4. With so many pieces missing on offense, Brock Purdy will be one of the key defenses between the 49ers and a 1-3 record.