Samuel likely out 2 games, Wilson to IR
Injured players have been key cogs in team’s two victories in a row
SANTA CLARA >> Offensive catalyst Deebo Samuel won’t be available for the 49ers’ game Sunday at Seattle, and his hamstring injury likely will keep him out of the following week’s NFC Championship game rematch with Green Bay.
Coach Kyle Shanahan announced that Monday, and he did not downplay
Samuel’s impact, which has sparked the team’s two wins in a row.
“Deebo is a huge part of our offense, a huge part of our team,” Shanahan said. “When you have a threat of someone who can hurt you blocking, catching or running, that is always an issue for a defense.”
Samuel got hurt late in Sunday’s 33- 6 rout at New England, the 49ers’ second straight win after a twogame slide. He tallied 11 catches for 131 yards and a touchdown on short passes the past two wins over the Los Angeles Rams and Patriots.
“The physicality our receivers bring to the game, starting with Deebo, really helps our offense, and we’ll miss him when he’s out, that’s for sure,” Shanahan said.
Wide receiver Richie James also might be out because of an ankle injury, but he will be evaluated Wednesday and is day-to- day.
The injuries to Samuel and James leave the 49ers familiarly thin at wide receiver, and it’s worth noting that rookie Jauan Jennings went on the practice squad’s injured-reserve list last week because of a hamstring issue.
Sunday’s snap count among the receivers was led by rookie Brandon Aiyuk (50 of 66) en route to his first 100-yard game, followed by Samuel (41), Kendrick Bourne (30), James (16) and Trent Taylor (three).
Taylor has played just 13 snaps the past three games combined, after playing 37 (51%) in the loss to the Eagles; he has six receptions for 45 yards on 12 targets.
Out last season with a foot injury, Taylor is healthy, said Shanahan, adding: “I have a lot of respect for Trent and a lot of confidence in Trent.”
Shanahan said Taylor’s reps have been limited because Bourne earned the right to serve as a No. 3 receiver behind starters Aiyuk and Samuel. Bourne likely will return to the starting lineup with Samuel out, and Taylor’s workload also could increase.
Dante Pettis was a healthy scratch a third straight game, and Shanahan indicated afterward that regardless of injuries to others, it was unlikely they were going to trade Pettis before next Tuesday’s deadline. Kevin White and River Cracraft are available via the practice squad. WILSON UPDATE >> Running back Jeff Wilson also got hurt that game, and he, too, will be out multiple games over the next month. Wilson will head to injured reserve after sustaining a high-ankle sprain while scoring his third touchdown.
“He was unbelievable,” Shanahan said. “You look at the second play of the game. It’s a little play. He hit Jeff solid for a 0-yard gain and just watch how hard Jeff tries to get 2 more yards. Then watch every play the whole game. Every time he gets hit, it’s like the goal line is right in front of him and he’s trying to cross that.”
There is an outside chance Tevin Coleman (knee) is able to come off injured reserve this week after missing the past five games, but Shanahan said he’d be surprised if Coleman is a full participant if he resumes practicing Wednesday.
Jerick McKinnon and JaMycal Hasty are the 49ers’ only healthy running backs. Undrafted rookie Austin Walter is on the practice squad.
‘ GOON SQUAD’ >> Tarvarius Moore and Marcell Harris, members of what Shanahan affectionately calls the “Goon Squad,” were bright spots in replacing injured starters Jimmie Ward and Jaquiski Tartt.
Said Shanahan: “Those guys always come in, fly around and hit. I call them our ‘Goon Squad,’ because when they come in, they’re 100 miles an hour and they’re trying to run
through everything, which is really fun to watch.
“Sometimes when you’re like that, you get a little amped up and make mistakes. Those guys limited that (Sunday). They were on their stuff, their reads, they never hesitated. They were a physical presence and didn’t leave many holes out there in coverage.”
Ward (quadriceps) and Tartt (groin) will try to rally this week, but their status won’t be determined until week’s end.
Safeties Johnathan Cyprien and Jared Mayden reverted to the practice squad. Neither played a defensive snap Sunday but Mayden excelled on special teams. They were insurance to Moore and Harris.
NOTES
• Defensive tackle Arik Armstead’s 30 snaps made for his lightest workload in two years. He registered just one tackle, and he has totaled 11/2 sacks this season after compiling a career-high 10 last year.
• The 49ers have opened 3- 0 on the road for the second straight year, a back-to-back feat they last accomplished in 1989-90. They’ve outscored their opponents 100-28 in East Coast visits to the Jets, Giants and Patriots.
• The 49ers have scored at least 30 points in 11 games since the beginning of last season. The only teams to do that more are the New Orleans Saints (15), Baltimore Ravens (12) and Dallas Cowboys (12).
• Defensive end Alex Barrett and cornerback Parnell Motley were waived. Barrett had two tackles in three games, and his exit clears a spot for pass rusher Jordan Hollis, whose trade from the Jets should become official soon. Motley was inactive Sunday after being claimed off waivers from the Buccaneers a week ago.
• Because the 49ers’ cross-country flight did not have satellite television, Shanahan and his staff reviewed film of their win rather than watch the Seahawks’ overtime loss to Arizona, which they planned to study Monday.