Deebo Samuel Could Play for 49ers vs. Cowboys amid Pneumonia Diagnosis, Shanahan Says

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel still has a chance to play Sunday night's game against the Dallas Cowboys following a hospitalization for pneumonia, head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters Wednesday.

Samuel exited the 49ers' Week 7 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs after having difficulty breathing in the second quarter of the game, head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters.

He was hospitalized after the game with pneumonia and fluid in his lungs, according to the team.

Shanahan told reporters on the following day that the 49ers had no timeline for Samuel's return.

Samuel had played just four offensive snaps prior to his exit from Week 7's loss, which marked the second game this season during which he has been limited by injury. He previously missed Week 3's loss to the Los Angeles Rams with a calf injury.

In the five games he was available this season, Samuel made 20 catches for 335 yards and one touchdown while serving as a fourth target for Brock Purdy behind receiver Jauan Jennings, tight end George Kittle and star wideout Brandon Aiyuk.

With Jennings sidelined with a hip injury, Samuel was expected to receive a larger target share against the Chiefs.

Now the 49ers' wide receiver depth will be tested further going forward, with Aiyuk set to miss the rest of the 2024 season after injuring his ACL and MCL against Kansas City, per Shanahan.

Samuel has been key to quarterback Brock Purdy's development as the Niners' starting quarterback. He is now three seasons removed from his 1,405-yard Pro Bowl campaign in 2021, but the importance of the key depth role he plays for the 49ers only increased with Aiyuk's season-ending injury.