Wide receiver Deebo Samuel late in the second quarter Sunday took a run play and went down awkwardly. Check out his injury update.
Deebo Samuel : Injury | Injury video | Injury Update
Samuel attended Chapman High School in Inman, South Carolina, where he played high school football and was coached by Mark Hodge. As a senior, he led his team to the semifinals of the AAA playoffs.
During his career, Samuel had 166 catches for 2,751 yards and 36 touchdowns; he rushed 133 times for 898 yards and 13 touchdowns. He finished with a record 53 career touchdowns, 94 tackles and 12 interceptions.
He won the High School Sports Report Class AAA Offensive Player of the Year, and played in the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas.
Samuel was rated as a three-star recruit by the 247 composite. He committed to the University of South Carolina to play college football.
Deebo Samuel Injury
Deebo Samuel was carted off the field on Sunday afternoon with a brutal knee injury.
Samuel, just before halftime of their 35-7 blowout win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, fumbled after a three-yard run up the middle of the field.
As he was being tackled by Tampa Bay defensive lineman Rakeem Nunez-Roches, however, Samuel’s left ankle and knee was rolled up on and bent backwards underneath Nunez-Roaches’ thigh.
Samuel remained on the ground for some time after the play was over, clearly in pain. He was eventually carted off the field, and was seen holding his left knee while riding off.
San Francisco ruled Samuel out officially with an ankle injury just after halftime. Specifics about his injury are not yet known, though coach Kyle Shanahan said after that it’s “most likely” a high ankle sprain. Also samuel’s ankle isn’t broken, and he’s believed to have avoided a major injury.
But the 49ers, behind a huge night from rookie Brock Purdy, flew past Tom Brady and the Bucs for a dominant 27-point win.
Purdy went 16-of-21 for 185 yards, threw two touchdowns and ran in a third in what was his first start to get their sixth straight win.
Deebo Samuel Injury video
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel exited Sunday’s 35-7 win over the Buccaneers with an ankle injury.
The 49ers WR is believed to have avoided a major injury and is still being evaluated to learn more about his injury, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported, per a source.
But head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters after the game that Samuel did not sustain an ankle fracture. Shanahan said it’s most likely a high ankle sprain for Samuel.
With 5:10 remaining in the second quarter, Samuel sustained the injury while getting tackled on a rush up the middle, with his legs twisting under bodies as a Bucs defender corralled him to the ground. Samuel lost a fumble on the play as the ball fell from his grasp once his legs bent back awkwardly.
Samuel immediately grabbed his left leg as he writhed on the turf. Also with his teammates on bended knee as he was attended to by San Francisco’s staff, Samuel was carted to the locker room.
San Francisco held a 21-0 lead over the Bucs at the time of Samuel’s exit. The 49ers’ All-Pro WR scored the game’s first touchdown on a 13-yard run and had four receptions for 43 yards before leaving the game.
Samuel has emerged as one of the more unique offensive weapons in the NFL with his ability to line up all over the field and his uncanny proficiency at making splash plays after a catch or run.
Injury Update
The first diagnosis was a knee injury and his status for the game against Tom Brady and company was questionable. That was then revised to be a ‘high ankle’ injury.
Samuel was tackled by Anthony Nelson on a 3-yard run, losing the ball, with 5:10 remaining in the second quarter. At the time, the 49ers were leading the game 21-0.
Before leaving Levi’s Stadium, the wide receiver had four receptions for 43 yards and four carries for 21 yards, including a touchdown. His teammates went on to win 35-7.
Before today’s game, Samuel had 776 yards and four touchdowns after 87 offensive touches. In all, he had been involved in 80 percent of the Niners’ offensive snaps.
According to The Score’s Jordan Schultz, the 49ers are optimistic about the All-Pro wide receiver’s health following the apparent sprained ankle.
However, they will conduct further medical evaluations to confirm the severity of Samuel’s injury.