Deebo details ‘scary’ pneumonia experience before 49ers-Cowboys game originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Star 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel still recovering from pneumonia that sidelined him in San Francisco’s 28-18 game loss to the Kansas City Chiefs last weekend at Levi’s Stadium.
He spent Sunday to Tuesday at the hospital with fluid in his lungs, but is progressing cautiously ahead of San Francisco’s Week 8 matchup with the Dallas Cowboys on “Sunday Night Football.”
“I honestly couldn’t breathe, for real,” Samuel told reporters Friday. “I didn’t really understand what was wrong until after the match.”
Living, let alone sprinting while wearing shoulder pads and a helmet, has been difficult for the 28-year-old. But Samuel knew something was particularly wrong when even adrenaline couldn’t give him energy during pregame warmups before the highly anticipated Super Bowl LVIII rematch.
“Probably when I went to pregame warmups and I didn’t have any energy to run or anything for a while,” Samuel said. “Then I came in and we tried to do a little IV (to) get some energy. Luckily we found it right after the game and so did everything else.
“Yeah, it was scary, because it was kind of hard to breathe, for real. You can’t breathe deeply.
Deep breaths are essential for any athlete. It was wise for Samuel to reevaluate rather than play poorly.
Luckily for Samuel, he’s in much better condition heading into the 49ers’ Week 8 matchup with the Cowboys, saying he’s “felt good” in recent practices, a promising sign.
The hospital stay, however, was not as positive. Samuel didn’t like the doctor’s office, but he played video games to distract himself.
“I suffer from anxiety in the hospital,” Samuel said. “I don’t like being in the hospital. But whatever it took for me to improve, you know I’m all for it. Those two days there were cool. I had my brother there (and) I was bringing my game. I was really just there, relaxing, getting all the treatment I needed.
San Francisco missed Samuel’s production last Sunday. He should be close to returning, according to coach Kyle Shanahan. listed it as questionable for the 49ers-Cowboys game earlier Friday.
Samuel is known for his strength and speed throughout his six-year NFL career. These traits were evident in his recovery from pneumonia.
