Depending upon when the 2020 NFL season begins, the San Francisco 49ers may have to find a way to replace dynamic wide receiver Deebo Samuel in their starting lineup.
Samuel underwent surgery on Thursday to repair a broken foot he suffered earlier in the week, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. The former second-round pick sustained the injury during a throwing session with teammates in Nashville. His expected recovery time for the Jones fracture is 12-16 weeks.
The #49ers standout, who became their go-to WR late in the season and in the playoffs, was primed for a huge 2020. He’s having surgery from Dr. Robert Anderson today and should return within 12-16 weeks. Plenty of time to make an impact, assuming a full recovery. https://t.co/FiAQLhtip2
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 18, 2020
The regular season is scheduled to begin in about three months, so it sounds like there’s at least a possibility Samuel could be ready for Week 1. If not, he will likely miss no more than a few games — assuming his rehab goes well.
Samuel finished his rookie season with 57 catches for 802 yards and six total touchdowns. He also rushed for 159 yards on 14 attempts.
Samuel’s former college coach recently joked that the 49ers should stay on the receiver to make sure he doesn’t slack off during the offseason. There won’t be much Samuel can do now for several weeks.
