Deebo Samuel does 49ers a solid, shows up at training camp

There won’t be a holdout with All-Pro Deebo Samuel, as the early reports are saying he’s in attendance at 49ers training camp.

San Francisco 49ers fans can breathe a little bit easier on the opening day of 2022 training camp.

Despite a strenuous offseason in which the Niners were faced with whether or not they should honor All-Pro wide receiver Deebo Samuel‘s trade request amid a contract-extension dispute, the two parties nevertheless have softened a bit since those tense weeks before this year’s NFL Draft.

Samuel, of course, wasn’t traded. San Francisco seems intent to keep him and (hopefully) making him happy with a new deal.

On the flip side, Samuel appears interested in mending the relationship, showing up to mandatory minicamp earlier this summer.

He’ll be at training camp, too, as Pro Football Focus’ Doug Kyed reported on the 49ers’ opening day:

Samuel still could be showing up merely to avoid any fines that would be associated with missing out, a total of $40,000 per day for players on their rookie contracts.

Hopefully, Samuel attending is a sign the two parties are nearing the finalization of a new contract.

Kyle Shanahan thinks Deebo Samuel will get a new deal soon

Speaking with The Athletic’s Tim Kawakami on the TK Show (h/t 49ers Webzone), head coach Kyle Shanahan was optimistic the relationship between the Niners’ leading receiver and the front office will be mended and a new extension will be processed soon:

"I know they’re working on it right now, our upstairs with John [Lynch] and Paraag [Marathe], I know they’ve been through negotiations with [Samuel’s agent] Tory [Dandy], so that’s something I know they’ve been doing [for] the last couple weeks. That’s my time to really stay out of it. I think they’ll get something done sooner than later, but there is no timeline I’m not really concerned about it right now, I think it’s all going to work out."

Shanahan also noted back at minicamp that he never thought the relationship between San Francisco and Samuel ever soured to a point where it’d all but require a trade.

Will Deebo Samuel participate in 49ers training camp drills?

Just because the wide receiver showed up doesn’t mean he’ll actually partake in on-field exercises.

Shanahan suggested it’s possible Samuel partakes in some drills, but the full-team practices remain anyone’s guess. Amid the new collective bargaining agreement between the players union and league, those fines for purely being absent can add up quickly.

However, if a player merely shows up but doesn’t participate, there isn’t exactly any language for that.

Instead of holding out, which Samuel obviously avoided by showing up, he might elect to stage a “hold in” where he’s physically present but opting not to participate in practices. It’s not unlike what Pittsburgh Steelers EDGE T.J. Watt did a year ago amid his own contract-extension talks before receiving his own hefty deal.

Still, in light of where things stood between the 49ers and Samuel just a few short months ago, his attendance at Levi’s Stadium is surely a welcome sight.