49ers star wide receiver and team captain Deebo Samuel has expressed frustration over his limited involvement in San Francisco’s offense. Despite the team’s 38-13 victory over the Chicago Bears on Sunday, Samuel took to X (formerly Twitter) the following day to voice his dissatisfaction with his lack of targets.
“Not struggling at all just not getting the ball!!!!!!! 🤷🏾♂️,” Samuel tweeted on December 9, 2024.
Samuel, in his sixth NFL season, is having one of his least productive years, averaging just 5.33 targets and 46.1 receiving yards per game. He has caught 40 passes out of 64 targets for 533 yards and one touchdown so far this season.
Although Samuel faced a similar situation last season during the 49ers’ successful run to the Super Bowl, he was likely more content due to the team’s strong 12-5 record. This season, however, is a different story. The 49ers are struggling with a 6-7 record, and key players like running back Christian McCaffrey and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk have been sidelined for significant portions of the season, leaving fewer threats for Samuel to compete with for touches.
In an attempt to clarify his comments, Samuel posted again, emphasizing that his frustration is not directed at any of his teammates, including wide receiver Jauan Jennings. Still, his social media activity suggests that he is upset with something or someone within the team.
While quarterback Brock Purdy and head coach Kyle Shanahan could potentially involve Samuel more in the game plan, it doesn’t appear to be an intentional snub. Instead, Samuel’s lack of targets may be the result of a mix of injuries, player availability, and ongoing inconsistencies within the depth chart.
