On Wednesday, Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice, regarded the best to ever play the position, spoke with Bay Area radio station 95.7 The Game about the situation of injured San Francisco 49ers wide out Deebo Samuel.
Samuel sustained a shoulder injury during this weekend’s playoff victory over the Green Bay Packers. Although not as serious as the hairline fracture he suffered in his shoulder during Week 6’s game against the Cleveland Browns, the injury held the top receiver out of practice Wednesday.
However, Rice does not believe Samuel will miss Sunday’s NFC Championship Game against the Detroit Lions.
“I expect Deebo Samuel to be on that football pitch,” Rice announced. “That is the bottom line. I believe Deebo, as a competitor, will be ready to play. I don’t expect him to sit this one out. We need to have all of our soldiers. We have to get everyone ready to gather and go into fight, dude, and I believe he will lead the way.
Samuel, 28, had 1,117 scrimmage yards and 12 touchdowns this season. If he is unable to go, wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk may see an increase in playing time. Rice, what advice would you give Aiyuk if Samuel is unable to play this weekend?
“It’s time for him to shine again,” Rice said. “That is it. If Deebo is not on the pitch, we know he will be the playmaker. And that third-down catch he made across the middle was challenging.”
Rice is referring to Aiyuk’s critical third-down grab during the 49ers’ game-winning touchdown drive in the final minutes of Saturday’s game against the Packers.
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