The San Francisco 49ers were dealt a brutal blow when it was announced that star wideout Deebo Samuel would miss time after sustaining a calf injury against the Minnesota Vikings .
However, the situation might not be as dire as originally reported, if Samuel himself is to be believed. On Monday, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters that Samuel sustained a calf strain and will be out for at least "a couple weeks," which puts a damper on what San Francisco is trying to do this season.
Though it is unclear when exactly Samuel hurt his calf, there are some indications the star receiver sustained the injury in the fourth quarter as the 49ers attempted a comeback against the Vikings. With just over two minutes remaining, Brock Purdy threw the ball to Samuel and as he attempted to get away from the defense, he was brought down by two defenders.
As he went to the sideline, Samuel was in clear discomfort as he made his way to the sideline. Still, Samuel returned for the final offensive snap of the game and it appeared as if his decision to return to the game might have proven to be detrimental to the 49ers in the long run.
With Samuel missing time, that leaves receiver Jauan Jennings as the next up in line for San Francisco. And if Samuel is to be believed, Jennings could step up for the 49ers as San Francisco attempts to weather the injury storm that is currently pounding the team.
Speaking to Sports Illustrated before the season started, Samuel explained why Jennings should be a player to watch out for once the season began in earnest. "I wouldn't even say he has improved," he said.
"Jauan has been the most consistent receiver that we have day in and day out as far as blocking and making plays. That's why we call it third-and-Jauan. He's in better shape. His ball skills have gotten way better. Every time you see him out there, he's giving everything he's got on every route, on every play."
With many of Purdy's main targets down for the foreseeable future, Jennings should expect his targets to rise exponentially. And considering Shanahan's penchant for having a creative offense and working with what he has available, Jennings could be in line for an explosive next handful of weeks.
That said, Samuel is just the latest 49ers star to miss time, joining star running back Christian McCaffrey and Elijah Mitchell on the sideline. McCaffrey is set to miss at least the next four weeks after being moved to the Injured Reserve list while Mitchell is out for the entire season with a hamstring injury.
Rookie receiver Ricky Pearsall also is missing time, with no timetable for return as he recovers from a gunshot wound he sustained after a botched robbery attempt. The 49ers' other star receiver, Brandon Aiyuk, is still settling in after holding out for a new contract for most of the offseason.
As the 49ers attempt to work through its injuries, the next two weeks should provide some respite for San Francisco. In Week 3, the 49ers will travel to Los Angeles to take on the injury-riddled Rams. The following week, the 49ers will take on the New England Patriots as the next two matchups.
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