Nick Wagoner, ESPN Workforce Scribbler
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The San Francisco 49ers don’t but know if they’re going to have broad receiver Deebo Samuel for Sunday’s NFC Championship Recreation. They do, on the other hand, know that there’s a minimum of a anticipation Samuel will play games towards the Detroit Lions.
For the reason that Samuel neglected two video games and the bye month with a microfracture in his left shoulder previous this season, the Niners were given some slightly just right information in regards to the shock he suffered Saturday night time towards the Green Bay Packers.
Schoolmaster Kyle Shanahan mentioned Monday afternoon that imaging didn’t display any other fracture in Samuel’s shoulder, which a minimum of leaves the door evident for him to go back this month.
“It wasn’t broken so that was a real good sign,” Shanahan mentioned. “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 suffered the shock with 5:35 left within the opening quarter of Saturday’s NFC divisional-round win. Samuel stuck a go from quarterback Brock Purdy over the center and was once scuffling with for remaining yards when a couple of Packers converged on him.
Later the play games was once blown useless, Samuel went indisposed and loose of the ball as Niners scientific team of workers surrounded him. He was once first of all evaluated for a concussion then a choice from the spotters within the sales space however was once briefly cleared.
“It was the shoulder and only the shoulder but I think it looked live like he possibly could have taken a hit in the head so that was just people from upstairs,” Shanahan mentioned.
Samuel in short returned to the sport sooner than he jogged to San Francisco’s bank room. He returned to the sideline and didn’t reenter the sport sooner than any other shuttle to the bank room on the two-minute ultimatum.
The Niners dominated Samuel out initially of the 3rd quarter and he watched the extra of the sport from the sideline in side road garments.
Later the Niners’ 24-21 win, Samuel instructed participants of the group he was once ‘OK,’ assets instructed ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Previous Monday, a supply instructed Schefter that the Niners imagine Samuel’s chances of playing against the Lions “50-50.”
In step with Shanahan, it’s just too early to inform, although the Niners have began game-planning for Detroit with each doable situations in thoughts.
“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 mentioned. “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.”
The Niners have indubitably been a greater and extra unhealthy offense with Samuel than with out him. Within the habitual season, they averaged 7.1 yards according to play games with him at the ground and 5.7 yards according to play games when he wasn’t. Additionally they went 0-3 when Samuel injured the shoulder within the opening quarter of a Future 6 loss to the Cleveland Browns.
If Samuel can’t play games, wideout Jauan Jennings is first in order for an higher position. Jennings had 5 catches for 61 yards, together with 4 first downs, on six objectives towards the Packers.
“Jauan, he always contributes,” Shanahan mentioned. “I think people see it more when he catches the ball, but Jauan has an impact whenever he’s out there on the field, whether it’s the run game or the pass game. He stepped it up big for us, one of the biggest warriors out on the field and love that he’s on our team.”
