5 injured SF 49ers whose post-bye week returns help most
By Peter Panacy
No. 2: SF 49ers Wide Receiver Deebo Samuel
The defense hasn’t exactly been the prime problem for San Francisco over the past three weeks, rather the lack of consistent offensive output.
One could argue center Ben Garland needs to be back, but there’s a chance that won’t be until the final couple of weeks of the season, per Kyle Shanahan.
Instead, fans are more than eager to see second-year wide receiver Deebo Samuel return from a hamstring injury suffered in Week 7.
Samuel and the SF 49ers’ other top wide receiver, Brandon Aiyuk, have played together for only four games this season, and Shanahan hasn’t had much of a chance to feature the two of them on the field at the same time. Aiyuk’s maturation has been fun to watch, yes, but both receivers are far more prolific when the other is on the field.
Plus, getting them on the field at the same time will significantly make life easier for quarterback Nick Mullens, who’ll know he has two legitimate pass-catching threats who can move the ball long after making the catch.
The hope is Samuel will be able to return from his injury in Week 12.