The good vibes of the impressive showcase of Brock Purdy vs. the Bucs suddenly faded away when San Francisco star Deebo Samuel went down in the second quarter while holding onto his left leg.
Rakeem Nunez-Roches made a tackle on Samuel that caused him to fall to the ground. Samuel lost the ball on the substitution, which was picked up by Lavonte David van Bucs. The All-Pro pass catcher immediately grabbed his left leg and lay down for a while as the Niners medical staff poured onto the field.
What happened to Deebo Samuel?
Samuel was eventually helped off the field while having tears run down his face as he entered the tunnel. As he left, “Deebo” cheers from 49ers supporters followed.
After the game, Kyle Shanahan said Samuel had no broken bones and most likely sprained his high ankle. Samuel sustained an MCL tear and an ankle sprain, according to an MRI on Monday. The 49ers have stated that Samuel is expected to return before the end of the regular season, despite the fact that he will be sidelined for some time. When Samuel collapsed on Sunday, many people feared the worst, but the prognosis is much better.
In a team riddled with absences, a potential sideline spell for Samuel might be most important for the Niners. He’s not quite on track for his mammoth 2021 season, when he established himself as perhaps the most dangerous player in the NFL. However, his penchant for passing and running plays has proven crucial, especially for a San Francisco team that has at times started this year with not one, not 2, but three different quarterbacks. Samuel left Sunday’s game with a total of 42 yards — 21 as a catch, 21 as a rush. He also opened the Niners’ scoring with a 13-yard dash in the first quarter.
Despite the health issues with Samuel, the 49ers have a solid depth at wide receiver. In the passing game, Ray-Ray McCloud, Jauan Jennings, and Brandon Aiyuk continue to be a potent trio. But none of these athletes can compare to Samuel, who is renowned for his skill in both sprinting and passing. Perhaps in an effort to replace the output lost due to Samuel’s absence, the Niners are looking more closely at Christian McCaffrey’s influences.
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