During the NFC Divisional Round game against the Green Bay Packers, San Francisco 49ers star wide receiver Deebo Samuel sustained a left shoulder injury, leading to his exit. Without one of the NFL’s most impactful players, the Niners faced challenging circumstances to overcome.

Samuel’s injury occurred during the 49ers’ second offensive drive. Following the injury, he was taken to the locker room for an assessment and was initially listed as questionable to return.

However, Samuel reappeared in the second half, no longer wearing his uniform, indicating his inability to rejoin the game. Shortly after, the 49ers officially announced that he would not return to the field after an unsuccessful offensive drive.

Earlier in the game, Samuel had been evaluated for a potential head injury after a hard hit while making a catch on the first drive but was cleared to continue playing. Unfortunately, he then sustained a shoulder injury.

NFL NEWS & PLAYOFFS: Deebo Samuel, San Francisco 49ers, Green Bay Packers Updates

Before leaving the game, Samuel had made two receptions totaling 24 yards, with the 49ers leading the game 7-3. During the regular season, Samuel had been a critical player for San Francisco, recording 60 receptions for 892 yards and seven touchdowns across 15 games.

Notably, the 49ers had lost both games that Samuel missed during the regular season, which was part of a three-game losing streak that began when he first injured his shoulder in a Week 6 game against the Browns.

NFL NEWS & PLAYOFFS: Deebo Samuel, San Francisco 49ers, Green Bay Packers Updates

With Samuel out, the 49ers aimed to maintain their offensive momentum with the help of other dynamic players like Christian McCaffrey, Brandon Aiyuk, and George Kittle. If San Francisco can manage to rally against the Packers, Samuels’ injury status will be at the forefront of storylines to monitor.