SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The San Francisco 49ers offence was dealt another blow with star receiver Deebo Samuel getting sidelined by a strained calf.
Coach Kyle Shanahan said Monday that Samuel got hurt in the closing minutes of Sunday’s 23-17 loss to the Minnesota Vikings and will likely miss “a couple of weeks.”
The injury to Samuel comes days after All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey was placed on injured reserve with a sore calf and Achilles tendinitis. That leaves San Francisco without two of its top three players last season in terms of touchdowns and yards from scrimmage.
“When you lose real good players, it’s always tough,” Shanahan said. “But it happens all over the league and it’s a huge part of this league and a huge part of this game. We’ve got to deal with it.”
Samuel had eight catches for 110 yards on Sunday and has been San Francisco’s No. 1 option in the passing game this season as Brandon Aiyuk works his back into form after missing all of training camp in a contract dispute. Samuel leads the team with 13 catches for 164 yards this season.
Samuel also has been the team’s No. 2 option at running back with McCaffrey hurt and scored on a touchdown run in the season opener against the New York Jets.
The Niners have an open spot on the roster after placing McCaffrey on injured reserve on Saturday, but Shanahan said he was uncertain if he would use that spot to add another receiver or running back.
San Francisco has three healthy running backs on the roster with rookie Isaac Guerendo and Patrick Taylor Jr. backing up Jordan Mason. Guerendo has one carry for no yards this season, while Taylor has only played on special teams.
The Niners have Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings, Chris Conley, Ronnie Bell and rookie Jacob Cowing at receiver.
“I don’t think anything is a true necessity,” Shanahan said. “But having that room gives us a luxury to pick wherever we need it the most and we’ll see how we feel about that here over the next few days.”
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel is set to be sidelined for an undisclosed amount of time due to a strained calf injury. The injury occurred during the team’s recent game against the Seattle Seahawks, where Samuel was seen limping off the field in the second half.
This news comes as a blow to the 49ers, as Samuel has been a key player for the team this season. The second-year receiver has been a reliable target for quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, leading the team in receiving yards and touchdowns. His ability to make plays after the catch has been a crucial part of the 49ers’ offensive success.
With Samuel out of the lineup, the 49ers will need to rely on other receivers to step up and fill the void. Kendrick Bourne and Brandon Aiyuk are likely candidates to see an increase in targets in Samuel’s absence. The team may also look to utilize their tight ends more in the passing game to make up for the loss of Samuel’s production.
It is unclear how long Samuel will be sidelined with this injury, as calf strains can vary in severity. The team will likely take a cautious approach with his recovery to ensure that he is fully healthy before returning to the field. In the meantime, fans will have to wait and see how the 49ers adjust their game plan without one of their top playmakers.
Overall, this injury is a setback for the 49ers, but they have shown resilience in the face of adversity before. With a talented roster and strong coaching staff, they have the tools to overcome this challenge and continue their pursuit of a playoff spot. Deebo Samuel’s absence will be felt, but the team is prepared to adapt and keep pushing forward.