The 49ers didn’t need long to find out whether the Deebo Samuel reunion would make sense. With Ricky Pearsall out after PCL surgery and headed to season-ending IR, San Francisco had a clear opening, and Samuel walked back into a role the team could use right away.
That was the practical side of it. The skepticism was real, too.
He’s older now, may not be as explosive as he once was, and the 49ers have plenty of history with aging veterans that hasn’t always aged well. There was also the simple fact that Samuel had already left once in search of a new challenge.
Still, the early read from camp has been positive. He’s been at every training camp session since joining, and he appears motivated by the chance to be back in the building. That tracks with the way his contract was structured, since it is mostly incentive-based and tied heavily to health and production.
No one should expect a replay of his 2021 season. That was five years ago, and the bar has to be more realistic than that. But the sense out of camp is that Samuel can still fill an important depth role while understanding exactly what this stage of his career demands.
He doesn’t need to be the focal point alongside Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, Jake Tonges, etc. What the 49ers really need is a useful version of Samuel when called upon, ideally closer to his 2023 level.
And that’s where he matters most for Kyle Shanahan: as another versatile piece who can help at receiver, running back and on special teams return duties, giving the offense another way to adapt when injuries or matchups force the issue.
In Other News...
49ers Land In Melbourne With Roster Questions Still Looming
The 49ers touched down in Melbourne this week with the focus shifting from travel to survival mode for a Week 1 meeting with the Rams. Even before the first full practice on Australian soil, the roster picture remained clouded by injuries and a few spots that still need sorting out, leaving the team with a familiar early-season balancing act: stay patient, but keep enough depth in mind if the room gets thinner.
For now, San Francisco is not expected to jump into the free-agent market right away, though a few familiar names sit in the background as possible insurance. Jeff Okudah, Leonard Floyd and Laken Tomlinson all have ties that could make sense if the 49ers decide they need veteran help, whether because of current injury concerns or just the need to shore up certain positions before the season settles in. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Depth Battle Could Create New Trade Chips Fast
The 49ers have already trimmed to their final roster, but that does not mean the personnel picture is settled for long. With a deep group in several spots and a coaching staff that has never been shy about reshaping the bottom and middle of the roster, players who survive the initial cut can still become trade candidates once the season starts and needs begin to sort themselves out.
A few names are worth watching because depth, performance and fit can all change quickly in San Francisco, and that gives the front office flexibility if another team comes calling. Jones, Samuel, Alfred Collins and Bethune are among the players whose situations could draw interest depending on how the early weeks unfold, but any move would hinge on both the 49ers' own needs and whether outside clubs see enough value to make a real offer. [Read more 🡒]
George Kittle Just Changed The Feel Of Rams Week 1
George Kittles presence around the 49ers has quietly changed the tone of Week 1. Still working back from the torn Achilles he suffered in the playoffs, the tight end traveled with the team to Australia and has been trending in the right direction as San Francisco prepares for its season opener against the Rams. He was activated from the physically unable to perform list on Aug. 23, and the practice reports since then have pointed toward a player closing in on game readiness rather than merely trying to get through the ramp-up.
The roster move at tight end only sharpened the picture. San Francisco cut Brayden Willis, a decision that reads like a sign the team feels better about Kittles availability than it did a few days ago, even if nothing is officially locked in yet. For a 49ers offense that leans heavily on Kittles versatility and energy, having him on the trip alone mattered, and the possibility of him lining up against Los Angeles gives opening day a very different feel than it did when camp first broke. [Read more 🡒]