San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel took to social media to express his frustration following the least productive four-game stretch of his career. In a now-deleted post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Samuel addressed his disappointing performance, which has seen him accumulate just 97 yards from scrimmage during this period. He lamented the absence of big plays that characterized his All-Pro season in 2021, stating, “Not struggling at all just not getting the ball!!!!!!!”
Though Samuel later removed the post, it sparked considerable discussion online. When asked about the situation on Tuesday, he acknowledged his frustration, saying, “You read what you read. A little frustrated, for sure.”
Head Coach Kyle Shanahan commented on Samuel’s post, expressing a preference for his players to keep their frustrations off social media. However, he assured that it had not become a distraction as the team prepares to face the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night. Shanahan noted the importance of discussing Samuel’s role, emphasizing that increasing his touches remains a priority for the team.
“I mean, I understand Deebo saying that,” Shanahan said. “Deebo wants to help us out, and the only way he helps us out is by getting the ball more, and we’d like to get it to him more. We’ll continue to work at that.”
Samuel enjoyed a breakout season in 2021, particularly during a midseason game against the Rams, where he recorded five receptions for 97 yards and a touchdown, while also contributing as a runner with five carries for 36 yards and another score. His versatility as a “wide back” played a crucial role in leading the 49ers to the NFC Championship game that year. He finished the season with 1,770 yards and 14 touchdowns from scrimmage, resulting in a lucrative contract extension.
However, Samuel has struggled to replicate that success over the past two seasons, facing challenges this year at age 28 as defenses have adjusted to his playing style. “We’ve been doing it almost three years now… they know what’s going on,” he remarked.
This season, Samuel is averaging just 2.9 yards per carry on 32 attempts and is on track for his lowest averages in catches and receiving yards per game, with 40 receptions for 553 yards. He has not scored a touchdown since Week 6.
Quarterback Brock Purdy, who described Samuel as one of his closest friends on the team, emphasized the need for more opportunities for the talented receiver. “I want to get Deebo the ball every play if I could,” Purdy said. “I want to have him break all the records as best as possible. I want Deebo to do Deebo things. We all do in this building. It’s just how the games have gone. I love my guy, and I’m going to do whatever I can to get him the ball.”
Injury Updates: Running back Isaac Guerendo (foot), defensive end Nick Bosa (oblique), left tackle Trent Williams (ankle), and offensive lineman Ben Bartch (ankle) were expected to miss the team’s walkthrough due to injuries. Linebacker Dre Greenlaw (Achilles tendon), defensive lineman Yetur Gross-Matos (knee), safety Malik Mustapha (chest, shoulder), linebacker Dee Winters (ankle), and linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (knee) were all limited in practice.
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