On Thursday, the San Francisco 49ers took a trip down memory lane and signed Deebo Samuel on a one-year deal. The move was a direct reaction to the situation developing with Ricky Pearsall's PCL complications. With Christian Kirk sidelined indefinitely and Pearsall looking at a prolonged absence, the Niners had little choice but to bring back the man who knows their system like the back of his hand.
The move might actually affect more than just the pass catchers, however. In a way, Deebo's presence could help solve an even more pressing issue on the offensive side of the ball.
Star running back Christian McCaffrey is in severe danger of being overworked yet again in 2026. Jordan James' recent rib fracture has left rookie Kaelon Black as the lone healthy backup to the franchise cornerstone. It's a precarious situation when considering that McCaffrey handled over 400 touches last year.
With such little depth behind CMC, the team was set to run a huge risk by giving him another hefty workload, not an ideal situation. His history of injuries following high-usage seasons is well established, and the 49ers surely wish to avoid the familiar nightmare.
Deebo's Samuel's superpower could save CMC's longevity
In signing Deebo Samuel, the 49ers also bring back one of the most versatile offensive players in the league. Fans surely haven't forgotten about the veteran's uncanny "wideback" abilities. In six seasons with the team, he amassed 202 carries for 1,143 yards, good for 5.7 yards per rush. Deebo's ground game will bring more experience to a disturbingly green running back room, as both James and Black have yet to register a single regular-season carry.
Even if he takes minimal usage away from McCaffrey, he will have served a meaningful purpose. The former Stanford man is now 30 years old playing a position that is notorious for its abbreviated shelf lives. Though he clearly isn't using his age as a crutch, McCaffrey can't ignore the fact that he will need to be periodically spelled during the season.
Deebo's reunion helps the 49ers in more ways than one. For a team filled with older offensive stars, it was clearly beneficial to acquire the multifaceted talent. Though Samuel himself is now 30, he still knows Kyle Shanahan's offense and will need little time to get acclimated. Fans can only hope he can bring much-needed relief to one of the league's most overworked tailbacks, thus saving his best production for when it matters most.
Add us as a preferred source on Google