San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan dismisses the notion that wide receiver Deebo Samuel has lost his touch, attributing his recent struggles to injuries and illness. Shanahan highlights Samuel's strong training camp and early-season performance before a setback due to a rib injury and pneumonia. He emphasizes that Samuel's health has been a major factor impacting his ability to maintain his usual momentum and production.
San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan disagrees with the idea that wideout Deebo Samuel has lost his touch.
"I don't think Deebo’s slowed down," Shanahan told the media on Wednesday. "I think he got banged up earlier in the year. I thought he had an awesome training camp to where I'd say he didn't slow down at all. We were real excited going into the year and I want to say it was Week 2 he got hurt in. I think Week 2 vs. Minnesota, he had over 100 yards and then we didn't get him vs. the Rams.
The illness and then the injury meant he couldn't "practice as much," which in turn makes it hard to keep your edge, the coach continued. "But by no means do I think he's lost it or anything. And then his looks haven't been quite as good this year, just like for everybody.
So yes, if you ask any fantasy manager, Samuel just isn't the same these days. And it's true that his numbers are behind compared to seasons past—indeed, he hasn't recorded more than four receptions in any of the last five games. But overall, Shanahan is just chalking his struggles up to a tough stretch health-wise and a 49ers offense that has seen better days all around.
In any event, Samuel will have another opportunity for some touches when San Francisco meets the Miami Dolphins this Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET.Brigid Kennedy is a breaking/trending news writer at Sports Illustrated and a proud graduate of Syracuse University's S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. She previously covered political news, sporting news, and culture at TheWeek.com before moving to Livingetc, an interior design magazine.
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