NFL
Why isn’t Deebo Samuel playing for the 49ers against the Cardinals in week 18?
The wide receiver took a few knocks in the defeat to the Lions on New Year’s Eve. He missed all of the Niners' practices last week.
The San Francisco 49ers will be missing some key players in both offense and defense in the final game of the regular season. Not that it matters too much at this stage - the team is bottom of the NFC West and left without options of the playoffs long ago.
Brock Purdy, Deommodore Lenoir, Spencer Burford and Robert Beal Jr have all been ruled out for Sunday’s matchup against divisional rivals the Arizona Cardinals (7-9).
Kyle Shanahan will also be without his starting wide receiver Deebo Samuel, who may have played his last game for San Francisco.
Samuel has been struggling with bruised ribs and a wrist injury and sat out practice on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
Injury and inconsistency mark Deebo Samuel’s season
“It’s been up and down throughout the year,” Shanahan told reporters in Friday’s press conference. “Even when he is good, he is still battling stuff through the season. Especially the way he plays and running with the ball and the physicality and everything, doing the kick returns. He’s hurting right now, but he’ll be alright a few weeks after the season.”
Samuel signed a three-year rookie extension with the Niners which expires at the end of this year when he will hit free agency. It’s not known whether the franchise will decide or rele
ase him or keep him on for another season.
How to watch San Francisco 49ers vs Arizona Cardinals
The 2024 NFL regular season matchup between the San Francisco 49ers and the Arizona Cardinals will be played at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Sunday 5 January 2025 with kick off scheduled for 4:25 p.m. ET / 1:25 p.m. PT.
Viewers in the United States can watch the game live on Fox.
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