The San Francisco 49ers suffered a huge blow Sunday as star wide receiver Deebo Samuel left their game with an ankle injury.
The good news: the injury does not appear to be serious, according to The Score’s Jordan Schultz.
Early indications are that #49ers WR Deebo Samuel did not suffer a serious injury, sources tell @theScore. I’m told the First-Team All-Pro WR badly twisted his ankle, but the team is optimistic he’s okay. Deebo will undergo more tests as a precaution.
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) December 11, 2022
The injury happened late in the first half. Samuel had a short run up the middle, but as Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Rakeem Nunez-Roches made the tackle, he rolled up on the back of Samuel’s leg.
It became clear immediately Samuel feared the worst.
49ers star Deebo Samuel was carted off after suffering a knee injury. Awful. pic.twitter.com/u6ydIkSMYZ
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) December 11, 2022
Samuel’s 49ers teammates gathered around him as he got on a cart to leave the field.
49ers players show support for Deebo Samuel as he's being carted off with a knee injury. pic.twitter.com/b3aM8aQ8LT
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) December 11, 2022
The 49ers ruled Samuel out of the game with an ankle injury.
Samuel had posted some good numbers to that point, with 64 total yards and a rushing touchdown.
The 49ers have had more than their share of injuries this season, with their top two quarterbacks, Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo, lost for the year. Elijah Mitchell, who began the season as the starter at running back, missed two months with a knee injury, returned, then got hurt again.
“I just got chills. My heart goes out to u Deebo. Prayin for u,” tweeted free agent wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.
“At what point does SF decide to completely change the entire medical and training staff?” tweeted one fan. “It’s unlikely they just have this bad of luck, right?”
“OMG this has to be some of the worst injury luck for the 49ers this year,” noted another fan.
I just got chills. My heart goes out to u Deebo. Prayin for u
— Odell Beckham Jr (@obj) December 11, 2022
#49ers Jerry Rice shared his thoughts after Deebo Samuel’s injury 👀 pic.twitter.com/sznxfcHU1h
— OurSF49ers (@OurSf49ers) December 11, 2022
Deebo Samuel was in tears after he was carted off with an apparent leg injury. pic.twitter.com/56UiZFsJbv
— ESPN (@espn) December 11, 2022
omg this has to be some of the worst injury luck for the 49ers this year.
— AngryMom (@ItsAngryMom) December 11, 2022
https://twitter.com/CeSquaredd/status/1602076906458910722
Update: 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan says that Samuel “most likely” has a high ankle sprain, and the ankle is not broken (via Jeff Darlington of ESPN).
Kyle Shanahan says Deebo Samuel has a left ankle injury. He said “we’re not sure” the extent but it’s “most likely” a high ankle sprain. It is not broken, he said.
— Jeff Darlington (@JeffDarlington) December 12, 2022
[Photo credit: Fox Sports]
