Deebo Samuel gets candid about his most “frustrating season” in the NFL
49ers WR Deebo Samuel isn't happy with how the 2024 season has panned out for him after just five wins from 10 games.
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Deebo Samuel (Image via IMAGO/X)
The 2024 season hasn’t gone according to plan for Deebo Samuel and for the San Francisco 49ers as a whole. After losing to the Seattle Seahawks on week eleven, the 49ers stand at a 5-5 record and bottom of the NFC West.
The scenario is a complete 180 from last season when they finished 12-5 and reached the Super Bowl by winning the NFC Championship. In a recent appearance on the Cleats & Convos podcast, Samuel revealed that the current season has been the most frustrating since entering the NFL.
This year, for sure. Losing games that we aren’t supposed to lose, we put our backs against the wall at times… We gotta finish games; we gotta be the Niners that everybody knows that we are, and it gets frustrating.
Deebo Samuel said.
Injuries to key players have hampered the 49ers season. All-Pro receiver Brandon Aiyuk and linebacker Dre Greenlaw remain sidelined, and 2023’s OPOY running back Christian McCaffrey just returned recently and played two games.
Besides reaching the Super Bowl in 2023, the 49ers also played in the NFC title games in 2022 and 2021. Kyle Shanahan’s team looks a far cry from their previous campaigns.
Deebo Samuel’s message for his naysayers
Samuel’s output regressed despite the increased responsibilities. During the Seahawks game, he caught seven passes for just 22 yards and carried the ball once for a negative yard. From nine starts, the former second-rounder put up 33 receptions for 490 yards and 1 touchdown. Meanwhile, Ja’Marr Chase leads the league in all three categories.
The naysayers are going to say whatever they want. At the end of the day, I can only control the things that I can control. So I just try my best to do that and just keep it pushing.
Deebo Samuel said.
Samuel averaged only 4.5 expected yards per carry this season, which is a full two yards fewer than last year (6.5). He’s no longer the same route runner as in previous years and can’t seem to outrun his markers.
Samuel is a non-factor as a receiver. He can’t separate at all and is no better than an average receiver. It’s why he can’t do anything as an underneath receiver. He can’t break free from defenders to do what he does best as a yards-after-the-catch-playmaker. 2024 is looking like 2022 for Samuel, which isn’t surprising.
Sports Illustrated’s Jose Sanchez recently wrote.
Samuel can still cross the 1000 yards but must get his act together quickly. He can start off with a good performance against the Green Bay Packers in week twelve.
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Ishan Misra
(3023 Articles Published)