San Francisco 49ers star wide receiver Deebo Samuel will miss a few weeks with a calf strain, head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters on Monday.
Samuel joins star running back Christian McCaffrey as key 49ers to suffer calf strains this season. McCaffrey missed all of the preseason and is now on injured reserve, meaning the earliest he can return is Week 6. There’s currently no word on whether Samuel will be a candidate to go on IR.
More news from Newsweek Sports: Bryce Young ‘Very Shocked’ at Panthers’ Decision to Bench Him
SANTA CLARA, CA – SEPTEMBER 9: Wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. #1 of the San Francisco 49ers stands on the field after returning a kickoff during the first quarter of an NFL football game against the New York Jets, at Levi’s Stadium on September 9, 2024 in Santa Clara, California. Samuel will miss multiple weeks.
Brooke Sutton/Getty Images
Samuel has been the 49ers’ top receiver this season. Through two games, Samuel has 13 receptions for 164 yards to go along with 10 rushes for 13 yards and a rushing touchdown. His 19 targets through two games lead the team.
Brandon Aiyuk has had a slow start to the season after sitting out most of training camp in search of a new deal. He has just six receptions for 71 yards on 10 targets. Tight end George Kittle has been the team’s second-best weapon after Samuel, securing 11 receptions for 116 yards and a touchdown. He’s been targeted 13 times.
The loss of Samuel will be massive for a 49ers offense that uses him as both a wideout and running back. With McCaffrey out, Samuel was running plays from both positions. Now, the 49ers will have to continue to rely on Jordan Mason out of the backfield.
The 49ers enter a crucial Week 3 NFC West matchup against the Los Angeles Rams. Both teams are greatly depleted, and both will be without their top two offensive weapons — the 49ers won’t have McCaffrey or Samuel, while the Rams won’t have wide receivers Puka Nacua or Cooper Kupp.
Read more: Rams WR Cooper Kupp to Miss ‘Extended Period of Time’ With Injury
Fantasy Football Impact of Deebo Samuel Injury
With Samuel out, Brandon Aiyuk and George Kittle should see an increase in touches. However, no one on the 49ers can replicate the production of Samuel, so it will be a huge blow to the team’s offense overall.
Wide receiver Jauan Jennings should be rostered, as his role should continue to increase without Samuel and with McCaffrey still sidelined for the foreseeable future.
The 49ers will definitely be relying on Aiyuk to step up and play like he did last year when he had 75 receptions for a career-high 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns. If not, the 49ers offense could take a major step back until Samuel and McCaffrey are able to return.
