The San Francisco 49ers believe star receiver Deebo Samuel has a “50-50” shot to play in Sunday’s NFC title game against the Detroit Lions, ESPN reported Monday, as imaging on his injured shoulder showed no new break.
“It wasn’t broken so that was a real good sign,” Shanahan said Monday afternoon. “But it’s still hurting too much for us to really have an idea how he will heal up this week. So, we’ve just got to be patient, see how he feels on Wednesday and based on if it’s improving it will give us a better idea whether he has a chance for the game or not.”
Samuel sustained the injury to his left shoulder in the first half of Saturday’s divisional round win against the Green Bay Packers and did not play in the second half. He caught two passes for 24 yards in the 24-21 victory.
It’s the second time this season Samuel has dealt with an injury to his left shoulder. He missed two games and the bye week in October and November with a microfracture in that shoulder.
Shanahan said Monday it’s too early to determine if Samuel will be ready to play Sunday.
“If we know he’s not available which hopefully we would know that by Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, at least in those three days then it makes it easier at least from a game plan standpoint you don’t have to do much,” Shanahan said. “But if there’s any chance, which I think we’ll have a better idea by Wednesday, obviously there will be things in there for him.”
Samuel, 28, caught 60 passes for 892 yards and seven touchdowns and rushed for 225 yards and five scores in 15 games during the 2023 regular season. He missed Weeks 7 and 8 with a shoulder injury.
–Field Level Media
