WR Samuel battling rib and knee injuries
Deebo Samuel paid a higher price than initially realized for his violent rampages through the Giants’ secondary last week.
The San Francisco 49ers wide receiver not only emerged with an injury to his ribs, he’s now dealing with a knee issue that was revealed a day after Thursday’s 30-12 win over New York, head coach Kyle Shanahan said. Samuel missed practice Wednesday after he was also sidelined Monday.
“It was something we didn’t know until the next day,” Shanahan said of Samuel’s knee injury. “Later in that day. Him being sore and stuff, he didn’t realize it until later.”
It’s not shocking that Samuel was sore. He ran through multiple Giants defenders on receptions of 40 and 19 yards in his sixcatch, 129-yard, onetouchdown performance. Wrote NBC’s Peter King of Samuel’s tackle-busting display: “I have no idea how long Deebo Samuel can last playing the physical style he plays. … I doubt he makes it through 17 games playing that way.”
Shortly after he punctuated last week’s win with a 27-yard, fourth-quarter touchdown grab, Samuel was asked whether he considered going down without a fight.
“That’s not the way I think,” Samuel said. “I just try to get every yard possible.”
In other injury news, linebacker Dre Greenlaw (ankle) and wide receiver Jauan Jennings (shin) did not practice. Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (shoulder) and cornerback Ambry Thomas (knee) were limited after missing last week’s win.
Alumni update: Shanahan was asked about the historic offensive performance overseen by his former offensive coordinator, Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, in a 70-20 win over the Broncos on Sunday.
Miami’s point total was the most in the NFL since 1966, and its 726 yards were the most since 1951.
“The Miami game was crazy,” said Shanahan, who watched part of the game on his phone at his daughter’s cheerleading competition. “They played so good and they really had it done, it seemed, like with about eight minutes to go. So it could have been a lot worse.”
Meanwhile, former 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans won his first game as a head coach Sunday as the Texans beat the Jaguars 37-17. Shanahan said it was easy to root hard for his ex-assistants who don’t lead NFC teams.
“You’re always happy for people that you know and also people you’ve been with,” Shanahan said. “I think it’s a lot more fun to watch guys in the AFC — then you can truly cheer for them.”
Transactions: Journeyman running back Jeremy McNichols had the briefest journey of his welltraveled career: The 49ers waived McNichols a day after signing him to the practice squad.
McNichols, who has had stints with nine teams in his seven-year career, also spent three weeks with 49ers this summer before he was released Aug. 29.
He also spent his rookie season with the 49ers in 2017 after he was released by Tampa Bay.
The 49ers signed three players to their practice squad: safety Tre Norwood, cornerback Kendall Sheffield and tight end Jake Tonges, a 2022 undrafted free agent who played at Cal and Los Gatos High School.