The 49ers didn’t wait long to bring Deebo Samuel back into the fold, and the timing says plenty. With injuries hitting the wide receiver room, San Francisco is reportedly signing Samuel to a one-year deal, giving Brock Purdy a familiar target as camp heats up.
But the bigger question isn’t whether Samuel can help. It’s how much the 49ers should actually ask of him.
That debate already has at least one clear challenger in camp: De’Zhaun Stribling. NBC’s Matt Maiocco didn’t put Samuel near the top of his list when asked about San Francisco’s top two receivers. “I think it's Mike Evans and De'Zhaun Stribling,” he said.
That kind of answer gets at the heart of what the 49ers are sorting through right now. Samuel knows the offense and has already proven what he can do in San Francisco, but this is not the same player or the same moment as 2021.
He’s 30 now, and the last two seasons have brought fewer than 800 receiving yards in each year. It has been five years since he last cleared 1,000 receiving yards.
The old all-purpose version of Deebo is not the safest bet anymore.
Stribling is the opposite kind of bet. At 23, he brings size at 6'2" and speed with a sub-3.40 40, and he’s already making noise in camp. He’s not just another body in the room; he’s pushing his way into the conversation as a secondary option, and that gives San Francisco something its offense doesn’t have enough of.
That matters because Kyle Shanahan’s skill group leans older in a few key places. Evans and tight end George Kittle are both over 30, and Christian McCaffrey just got there too.
Purdy, in other words, doesn’t have the same stash of young, explosive weapons that some other quarterbacks can count on. Stribling offers a chance to add that kind of juice.
If Ricky Pearsall does miss time, the 49ers may be forced to decide between what they know and what could be. And in a room where there’s already plenty of experience, the upside case starts to look awfully strong.
In Other News...
Aldon Smith Update Leaves 49ers Fans With Painful New Questions
The release of a 911 audio recording has brought a painful new layer to the story of Aldon Smiths death, offering a glimpse into the emergency response after the former 49ers defensive end was found unresponsive in a vehicle on June 13. The call from Amir Shirazi and the frantic scene around Smith have renewed attention on a player whose career once flashed at a star level in San Francisco before off-field struggles and an early exit from the NFL became part of his legacy.
What makes the latest update so difficult for former teammates and fans is how much is still unknown. Smiths family has retained legal counsel to investigate the circumstances, and while the recording adds troubling detail to those final moments, the official cause of death has not been publicly disclosed, leaving a painful gap where answers would normally be. [Read more 🡒]
Brandon Aiyuk Keeps Making One 49ers Rift Harder To Ignore
Brandon Aiyuks offseason has only added another layer to a situation the 49ers would probably prefer to keep quiet. While the veteran receiver has made it clear on social media that Washington is his preferred landing spot if he is ever released by San Francisco, the backdrop here matters too: Deebo Samuel already came back to the 49ers after a stint with the Commanders, and linebacker Dre Greenlaw also returned after spending a year away. For a team that has seen players circle back before, Aiyuks public posture stands out all the more.
The contrast with Samuel has been hard to miss, especially because Aiyuks social media presence has leaned into criticism of Kyle Shanahan rather than reconciliation. That leaves the 49ers in an awkward spot, with one of their most prominent receivers openly pushing in a different direction while the rest of the roster churn has already shown how unusual, and how complicated, these separations and reunions can get. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Are Learning To Operate Without Kyle Shanahan Right Now
Kyle Shanahans absence around the 49ers facility has been the latest reminder that even in the summer, a teams rhythm can change quickly when its head coach is suddenly less visible. Shanahan has been recovering from a concussion and other injuries suffered in a recent car accident, and his reduced presence has pushed the staff into a different kind of routine as San Francisco keeps moving through its preseason work.
Offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak said the coaches and players have adjusted to operating with less of Shanahan day to day, which is a useful sign for a team trying to keep its preparations steady. There is still plenty of time before the 49ers kick off in Australia, and the expectation remains that Shanahan will be back in place for that season opener, but for now the focus has been on maintaining the normal workflow without its usual centerpiece. [Read more 🡒]