SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Deebo Samuel, the San Francisco 49ers wide receiver, recently expressed his frustration regarding his lack of production over a four-game span, which marked the least productive stretch of his NFL career. Feeling the pressure of his declining performance, he took to social media to voice his thoughts but later deleted his post. In his message on X, formerly Twitter, Samuel pointed out that he had accumulated only 97 yards from scrimmage during this period, indicating that big plays, a key part of his All-Pro 2021 season, have been absent. “Not struggling at all just not getting the ball!!!!!!!” he asserted in the now-removed message.
When reporters asked Samuel for further comments on his social media activity the next day, he simply acknowledged his frustration, stating, “You read what you read. A little frustrated, for sure.” Coach Kyle Shanahan weighed in on the situation, expressing that he would have preferred Samuel to keep his frustrations off social media. However, he reassured that it did not disrupt the team’s preparation as they gear up to face the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night.
Shanahan mentioned that he regularly discusses Samuel’s role on the team and emphasized that increasing Samuel’s touches remains a priority for the 49ers. “I mean I understand Deebo saying that,” Shanahan noted. “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’s breakout season occurred in 2021, characterized by a pivotal game against the Rams where he recorded five catches for 97 yards and a touchdown, also contributing as a runner with five carries for 36 yards and another touchdown. That season, he played a significant role in guiding the 49ers to the NFC Championship game, showcasing his versatility by functioning as a “wide back” who fluidly transitioned between receiver and running back roles. His impressive performance resulted in 1,770 yards and 14 touchdowns from scrimmage, culminating in a lucrative contract extension the following offseason.
Despite his previous successes, Samuel’s output has declined over the past two seasons, and at 28 years old, he acknowledges that defenses are now well-prepared for his playing style. “We’ve been doing it almost three years now… they know what’s going on,” he reflected.
He has struggled significantly this season, averaging just 2.9 yards from 32 carries and appears to be heading for one of his least productive seasons in terms of catches and receiving yards, currently standing at 40 receptions for 553 yards. He has not found the end zone since Week 6.
Quarterback Brock Purdy, who described Samuel as one of his closest friends on the team, believes that Samuel simply requires more opportunities to excel. He remarked that opposing defenses have been effective in limiting Samuel’s chances. “I want to get Deebo the ball every play if I could,” Purdy stated. “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.”
As the team prepared for its next matchup, there were injury concerns affecting several players. Running back Isaac Guerendo (foot), defensive end Nick Bosa (oblique), left tackle Trent Williams (ankle), and offensive lineman Ben Bartch (ankle) were anticipated to miss the team’s walkthrough due to injuries. Additionally, 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 listed as limited participants.