Samuel enjoys happy return as he shines against Rams
Deebo Samuel’s impact on the 49ers is unmistakable.
When he missed three games with a hamstring injury, the 49ers had no spark and sustained three consecutive loses by double digits.
When Samuel returned to the lineup Sunday in Los Angeles, he certainly made an impact, more often than not actually careening into and off of Rams’ defenders in a 23-20, walk- off win.
He registered 133 receiving yards — and was credited with 135 yards after the catch, per ESPN’s stats. He had 83 yards after contact, the most by a receiver this season, according to Pro Football Focus.
Of his career-high 11 receptions, three came when the 49ers needed them most, to catapult their game-winning drive that ended with Robbie Gould’s walk- off field goal.
Coach Kyle Shanahan, having drafted Samuel in the second round last year, beamed ... like a proud fantasy-football manager and professed how much “I love that guy.”
“I can’t tell you how good Deebo was,” Shanahan said. “I a lway s mess with him because I’m a soft compliment guy, so Deebo’s got a lot to work on, but he’s one of the best football players I’ve been around.”
Shanahan has been around football players every day of his life, which amounts to thousands as he approaches his 41th birthday on Dec. 14.
Samuel said their relationship “is getting better and better as time goes on. It all starts from trust, how I am with the ball and what Kyle trusts me to go out there and do.”
Shanahan relayed to Samuel after the game exactly what he told reporters of the offensive powerhouse.
Samuel said of their exchange: “Today he was, ‘I’m proud of you. But you know we still have things to work on.’ “
After Samuel keyed the 49ers’ Nov. 18 win over the Rams, defender Aaron Donald acted as if he didn’t know who Samuel was.
After this win over the Rams, Samuel dug in on social media and returned fire at Donald, posting laughing emojis with a video of Donald’s ejection from a 2016 game against the 49ers.
49ERS- CARDINALS WEEK 16 GAME SELECTED FOR EXCLUSIVE BROADCAST >> The 49ers’ scheduled game against the Arizona Cardinals on Dec. 26 won’t be broadcast like any other NFL game in this tumultuous season.
The NFL scheduled a tripleheader slate of nationally televised games for the day after Christmas. While the Detroit Lions-Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Miami Dolphins- R aiders games will air on NFL Network, the 49ers and Cardinals will kick off what could be a game with major playoff implications on Amazon Prime Video and Twitch at 1:30 p.m.
If you’re not sure how to access Prime Video or Twitch, don’t fret — local fans in the Bay Area can watch the game on NBC Bay Area (KNTV).
Prime Video requires a paid subscription and will air the game as part of a three-year deal between the platform and league with Amazon picking up rights to air one Saturday game per year.