San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel (1) - Terrell Lloyd/49ers
Major news is coming from the San Francisco 49ers once again, but this time revolving around wide receiver Deebo Samuel. The 49ers faced a tough loss in week two against the Minnesota Vikings, but the bad news keeps coming. On the Monday following the game, it was revealed that Samuel suffered a calf strain and will miss some time. Here is a look at the news, and what this means for the 49ers moving forward.
Deebo Samuel Suffers Calf Strain
The news was initially released by ESPN and 49ers reporter Nick Wagoner on X. Wagoner stated that Samuel would be missing a couple of weeks due to a calf injury. The injury was sustained during the game against the Minnesota Vikings. The exact timetable is a wait-and-see.
The odds are it will be a minimum of three weeks. It will depend on how bad of a strain it really is. The key will also be not to rush Samuel back. Hopefully, this is not a major injury. Samuel has been a strong player for the 49ers this year. He has been stepping up big time. In the two games, Samuel has had 13 receptions for 164 yards, according to Pro Football Reference. He has also rushed the ball ten times for just 13 yards, but also one touchdown.
What this Means for the 49ers
So now the 49ers will be without both Christian McCaffrey and Samuel for what seems like at least three weeks. This will be the first time that the 49ers have had neither of them on the field since 2022. This will not be easy for the 49ers. Losing their top two offensive weapons is going to be a battle. First, it is important to take a look at the key players who have to step up without Samuel. Then the next couple of games must be discussed.
49ers Receivers to Step Up
While it is known that Jordan Mason is stepping up in McCaffrey’s place, there are a couple of receivers that must step up without Samuel. The first is Brandon Aiyuk. The receiver got his money, now it is time to show that he was worth the contract. He is having a slow start to the season, but now he has to go out and be the guy. There is also Jauan Jennings who has had a decent start to the year. He is not the team’s top target, but he is a clutch player. Now he has to step up a bit more with Samuel and McCaffrey both out for a couple of weeks.
Chris Conley is a veteran that the 49ers can heavily utilize. He is not the team’s top player, but he does show up when needed. He is likely to have a bigger role without Samuel present. A lesser-known player to watch for is Jacob Cowing, a rookie. Cowing is currently the punt returner for the 49ers, but a strong preseason is what earned him a spot on the roster. This could be his chance to showcase his skills. The final receiver to step up is Ronnie Bell. Bell is a second-year player. He had a couple of receptions last season but not much. Hopefully, he can step up for the next couple of weeks.
Outside of the wide receivers, there is still George Kittle and Kyle Juszczyk. Kittle had a strong game against the Vikings, and will likely be utilized more with both Samuel and McCaffrey out. Juszczyk blocks often, but he is a player that quarterback Brock Purdy knows he can look for when under pressure. These two 49ers veterans will likely step up as they are missing key players. A more minor player to watch for is tight end Eric Saubert. He has done well blocking, but late in the game while the 49ers had to move quickly, Saubert did well in the receiving game. This could be something to keep an eye on.
Although it cannot happen until at least week five, also watch for the return of Ricky Pearsall. Pearsall was shot ahead of the season in the chest but is healing well and itching to get back onto the field. The 49ers will be careful with him, but will be something to watch.
Next Couple of Games for the 49ers
The timetable for Samuel is unknown. Next week the 49ers will face the Los Angeles Rams. Samuel will be out for this game. The Rams are also a team dealing with several injuries. In two weeks, the 49ers will face the New England Patriots at home. This is still too early for McCaffrey to return. Given Samuel will miss a couple of weeks, this is not a game to expect him to return. In three weeks from now, the 49ers will face the Arizona Cardinals. This is the final game that McCaffrey will have to miss, due to being on IR. It seems from current reports that Samuel will miss that game too.
Following the Cardinals game is where things get questionable. The 49ers will face the Seattle Seahawks during Thursday Night Football. McCaffrey will be eligible to return from IR this game, but being a short week that seems unlikely. Given the status of Samuel, being a short week this also seems unlikely but that is a wait and see. If Samuel is healthy, he will want to play no matter how long of a turnaround.
Following the game against the Seahawks, the 49ers will face the Kansas City Chiefs and then the Dallas Cowboys. These are the last two games before the bye week. This is when to watch for the injured players to start returning for the 49ers.
With Samuel out, it will be a battle for the 49ers. It is a team game, and everyone will have to step up. Hopefully, Samuel will heal up well from this calf strain.
