They say the squeaky wheel will get the grease, and it seems to be like San Francisco 49ers receiver Deebo Samuel took it and rubbed it on his fingers. Just days after taking to social media suggesting that his latest struggles have been attributable to an absence of utilization, Samuel put collectively one other flat efficiency in his workforce’s Week 15 loss to the Los Angeles Rams that now has their season all however cooked.
Earlier within the week, Samuel posted (after which deleted) a proof for why his manufacturing has gone silent as of late. The submit learn: “Not struggling in any respect simply not getting the ball!!!!!!! [shrug emoji].”
Coming into Thursday’s sport, Samuel had registered not more than 22 yards receiving in every of his earlier 4 video games and was seeing roughly 4.7 targets per sport over that stretch. With that lobbying on social media in thoughts, Samuel’s utilization on this sport was going to be a worthwhile storyline to observe. It was, however not in the best way Samuel had hoped.
In the 12-6 defeat that dropped the 49ers’ report to 6-8, Samuel completed with three receptions for 16 yards on seven targets (tied for second-most on the workforce). He additionally rushed the ball twice for 3 yards. If that incapability to supply with the ball in his fingers wasn’t unhealthy sufficient, he additionally had a few performs that negatively impacted the San Francisco offense.
During the 49ers’ second possession of the sport, he was late to rise up the left aspect of the sphere and basically tackled teammate Isaac Guerendo to cease him with a 1-yard acquire.
At the beginning of the second quarter, Samuel additionally dedicated a false begin penalty that turned a third-and-4 scenario right into a third-and-9.
However, probably the most debilitating miscue from the wideout got here halfway by the third quarter. In a sport the place neither workforce reached the top zone, Samuel arguably had the perfect shot. Brock Purdy discovered Samuel huge open over the center of the sphere on a third-and-10 throw from the Los Angeles 29-yard line. Had Samuel reeled the ball in, he had a powerful likelihood to breeze into the top zone for a landing to interrupt the 3-3 tie and go up 10-3. Instead, the ball bounced out and in of his fingers for a drop, and the offense settled for a discipline aim and took a 6-3 lead.
After the sport, 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan stated it was a play Samuel needed to make.
“That was a giant one. Third down and with Deebo’s ability set, I’d have been shocked if he did not rating on the play,” Shanahan stated. “He must catch that ball.”
With the wind out of their sails, the 49ers gave up a 9-0 run within the fourth quarter to fall to Los Angeles.
This is Samuel’s fifth straight sport registering 35 or fewer scrimmage yards, which is the longest such streak of his profession. That dropped landing additionally contributed to what’s now an eight-game landing drought for the 28-year-old, additionally the longest of his profession.
