Deebo Samuel believes 49ers wide receiver injuries could be a blessing in disguise
Having had to cope without Brandon Aiyuk last week against the Giants, the 49ers could be without both Deebo Samuel and Jauan Jennings in their Week 4 meeting with the Cardinals. Samuel is listed as questionable having injured his ribs and his knee against the Giants last week, while third wideout Jennings is doubtful with […]
Having had to cope without Brandon Aiyuk last week against the Giants, the 49ers could be without both Deebo Samuel and Jauan Jennings in their Week 4 meeting with the Cardinals.
Samuel is listed as questionable having injured his ribs and his knee against the Giants last week, while third wideout Jennings is doubtful with a shin injury.
The 49ers are set to get Aiyuk back from a shoulder injury this week, but behind him they will be left to rely on Ronnie Bell and Ray-Ray McCloud if Samuel and Jennings cannot go.
Rookie seventh-rounder Bell caught his first NFL touchdown pass last week, and Samuel believes the additional reps he and the receivers further down the depth chart are receiving amid the Niners' injuries could ultimately prove to be a blessing in disguise.
Samuel told reporters on Friday: "It’s kind of a good thing because you know injuries happen so it just has to be that next man up mentality and for the guys [Bell and McCloud] to be ready for the moment and not let that moment get too big for them is pretty big."
Asked about Bell in Friday's press conference, Shanahan echoed Samuel's enthusiasm for what the former Michigan wideout has produced to this point.
“He’s been great in these first three weeks," said Shanahan. "Played really well without the ball and when he’s got opportunities, he has done exactly what he’s expected to do and gets better in practice every day and been real excited with him so far.”
If Samuel does indeed miss out, the 49ers will be robbed of a player who exploded to deliver his best performance of the season last week.
He had 129 yards on six catches against New York, a performance made all the more impressive by his revelation that the knee injury happened in the second quarter on a third-and-15 screen pass he took for 30 yards.
Of the two injuries, it is that issue that appears likely to be the one that will keep him out of Sunday's game.
"The knee was a little more sore than the ribs, kind of happened on that screen I caught on 3rd and 15," explained Samuel.
"At the time I wasn’t feeling how bad it was. It did get flamed up and it was pretty sore."
Final 49ers injury report for Week 4, vs. Cardinals
The 49ers could be down a pair of wide receivers.
