SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The San Francisco 49ers do not but know whether or not they may have extensive receiver Deebo Samuel for Sunday’s NFC Championship Recreation. They do, nevertheless, know that there is at the very least an opportunity Samuel will play towards the Detroit Lions.
On condition that Samuel missed two video games and the bye week with a microfracture in his left shoulder earlier this season, the Niners received some comparatively excellent news in regards to the harm he suffered Saturday night time towards the Inexperienced Bay Packers.
Coach Kyle Shanahan stated Monday afternoon that imaging didn’t present one other break in Samuel’s shoulder, which at the very least leaves the door open for him to return this week.
“It wasn’t damaged, in order that was an actual good signal,” Shanahan stated. “But it surely’s nonetheless hurting an excessive amount of for us to actually have an concept how he’ll heal up this week. So, we have simply received to be affected person, see how he feels on Wednesday, and primarily based on if it is bettering it should give us a greater concept whether or not he has an opportunity for the sport or not.”
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Samuel suffered the harm with 5:35 left within the opening quarter of Saturday’s NFC divisional spherical win. Samuel caught a go from quarterback Brock Purdy over the center and was battling for further yards when a number of Packers converged on him.
After the play was blown useless, Samuel went down and let go of the ball as Niners medical employees surrounded him. He was initially evaluated for a concussion after a name from the spotters within the sales space however was shortly cleared.
“It was the shoulder and solely the shoulder, however I feel it regarded dwell like he probably might have taken a success within the head, in order that was simply folks from upstairs,” Shanahan stated.
Samuel briefly returned to the sport earlier than he jogged to San Francisco’s locker room. He returned to the sideline and didn’t reenter the sport earlier than one other journey to the locker room on the two-minute warning.
The Niners dominated Samuel out firstly of the third quarter, and he watched the remainder of the sport from the sideline in avenue garments.
After the Niners’ 24-21 win, Samuel advised members of the group he was “OK,” sources advised ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Earlier Monday, a supply advised Schefter that the Niners contemplate Samuel’s possibilities of taking part in towards the Lions “50-50.”
In accordance with Shanahan, it is just too early to inform, though the Niners have began game-planning for Detroit with each potential situations in thoughts.
“If we all know he is not out there — which hopefully we might know that by Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, at the very least in these three days — then it makes it simpler, at the very least from a game-plan standpoint; you do not have to do a lot,” Shanahan stated. “But when there’s any likelihood, which I feel we’ll have a greater concept by Wednesday, clearly there will probably be issues in there for him.”
The Niners have undoubtedly been a greater and extra harmful offense with Samuel than with out him. Within the common season, they averaged 7.1 yards per play when he was on the sector and 5.7 yards per play when he wasn’t. In addition they went 0-3 after Samuel injured the shoulder within the opening quarter of a Week 6 loss to the Cleveland Browns.
If Samuel cannot play, wideout Jauan Jennings is first in line for an elevated function. Jennings had 5 catches for 61 yards, together with 4 first downs, on six targets towards the Packers.
“Jauan, he at all times contributes,” Shanahan stated. “I feel folks see it extra when he catches the ball, however Jauan has an impression at any time when he is on the market on the sector, whether or not it is the run recreation or the go recreation. He stepped it up massive for us, one of many greatest warriors out on the sector and love that he is on our crew.”
