The 49ers welcomed Deebo Samuel back to practice 2 1/2 weeks after he sprained his knee and ankle, and it’s more so a great sign for the playoffs than a role Sunday against the Raiders.
Only 18 days earlier, Samuel emotionally buried his head in his hands as he got carted off the field. His season looked in jeopardy. His right knee and ankle got twisted amid defenders 5 minutes before halftime of an eventual 35-7 rout of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Samuel didn’t magically re-appear on the practice field Thursday. He went through light workouts on the side last week and again Wednesday, earning clearance to put back on his No. 19 jersey. A year ago, the 49ers relied so heavily on Samuel for their playoff push, and he delivered in All-Pro fashion. After they blew a 10-point lead in the NFC Championship Game, he was asked if he felt he was the focal point for defenses, and he replied: “In my eyes, you have to stop everybody.”
“He was the hot hand. Not that we needed him to do that, but why not keep giving it to him? He’s shown to be very hard to corral any place he’s given the ball,” Williams said of Samuel last season. “It’s not like we don’t need that now. But we have enough playmakers to pick up the slack until we get him back.”
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