The San Francisco 49ers may be peaking at just the right time. Head coach Kyle Shanahan revealed Friday that wide receiver Deebo Samuel is officially good to go for Sunday's NFC Championship game after the All-Pro practiced without limitation.
Kyle Shanahan says #49ers star Deebo Samuel is not on the injury report. He’ll play on Sunday vs the #Lions in the NFC Championship game. “Full go today.”
— Omar Ruiz (@OmarDRuiz) January 26, 2024
Samuel exited last Saturday's 24-21 Division Round win over the Green Bay Packers after only nine snaps, having suffered a shoulder injury. The 49ers also cleared defensive lineman Arik Armstead (foot/knee) and linebacker Dre Greenlaw (Achilles), who both practiced with nagging injuries.
That the 49ers managed to win largely without Samuel last week speaks to the ludicrous depth they've compiled at their skill positions. With 892 receiving yards and 225 rushing yards, Samuel was one of four players to cross 1000 yards from scrimmage for the 49ers this season, ranking third on the team behind running back Christian McCaffrey (2023), wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (1342), and narrowly ahead of tight end George Kittle (1022).
Sunday will mark the 49ers' third straight year playing for the NFC championship, but their first two trips ended in disappointment. If they're going to break through and eventually win their first Super Bowl since the 1994 season, they'll have to put away a feisty Detroit Lions team that has proven they can score with anyone: their 27.1 points per game this season ranked fifth in the league. The 49ers may need all the firepower they can get, and Samuel's healthy return should go a long way.
Photo Credit: © Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
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