After 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel caused a stir with a social media post in which he said he was “I don’t struggle at all, I just don’t get the ball“, Samuel deleted the post. But in the 49ers locker room on Tuesday, Samuel admitted to reporters that he was frustrated.
“You read what you read, a little frustrated, for sure,” Samuel said.
When asked if he spoke to coach Kyle Shanahan about contact, Samuel said, “Oh, yeah, 100 percent, yeah.”
Samuel has played no role in the 49ers passing game in recent weeks, totaling just 85 receiving yards over the last four games. And his decline as a runner has been even more significant: Last season, Samuel carried the ball 37 times for 225 yards and five touchdowns. This season, Samuel carried the ball 32 times for 92 yards and a touchdown. Samuel said opposing defenses were ready to pass him the ball.
“They’re not surprised anymore,” Samuel said. “We’ve been doing it for almost three years now, so you kind of have a 50/50 chance whether I’m in the backfield or I get a transfer or I finish or anything like that.”
With the 49ers’ playoff hopes hanging by a thread, getting Samuel back to his old All-Pro form could help save their season. But right now, frustrations are mounting.
