49ers' Samuel should be back this season

Star receiver Deebo Samuel is expected to return to the San Francisco 49ers before the end of the regular season after the team got a favorable report on his injury.

The Niners announced Monday that Samuel has a sprained left ankle and MCL in his left knee but is only expected to miss a couple of weeks.

San Francisco also said that quarterback Brock Purdy is day-to-day with injuries to his oblique and ribs. Purdy would have been limited if the 49ers had practiced Monday ahead of Thursday night’s game at Seattle.

The initial fears for Samuel were for a much more significant injury when his leg got bent back awkwardly as he went down on a run in the first half of a 35-7 win over Tampa Bay on Sunday.

Samuel screamed as he tried to get up and then was taken off the field on a cart with his head in his hands in tears.

But the final diagnosis was much more optimistic as the Niners (9-4) are now expected to have their dynamic playmaker back for the end of the season and playoffs. was fined $50,000 for the delay that resulted from Jordan signaling to Saints coaches that he needed attention from trainers.

The Saints, who as a club also have denied wrongdoing, were fined $350,000 by the league office. Coach Dennis Allen was fined $100,000 and co-defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen was fined $50,000.

Jordan and his agent, Doug Hendrickson, have said they are appealing the fine, which Hendrickson has derisively labeled as “idiotic” and “a joke.”

Falcons bench Mariota

The Atlanta Falcons are turning to rookie Desmond Ridder at quarterback, announcing Monday that Marcus Mariota has been benched with the team still in contention for a playoff berth but struggling with four losses in its past five games.

The Falcons (5-8) made the switch to Ridder to bolster an offense that is averaging just 17.6 points a game during its recent skid. The third-round pick led Cincinnati to a College Football Playoff berth a season ago.

Cowboys sign free agent WR Hilton

The Dallas Cowboys have signed free agent receiver T.Y. Hilton, adding the former longtime Indianapolis Colts player after their much-publicized courting of Odell Beckham Jr.

Hilton had gone unsigned all season after his 10-year run with the Colts ended following the 2021 season.

Beckham spent two days with the Cowboys last week, but no offer was made.