49ers WR Deebo Samuel ruled out for Week 17 in Las Vegas

Dec 30, 2022, 1:59 PM | Updated: 2:25 pm

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 24: Injured player Deebo Samuel #19 of the San Francisco 49ers looks on after the game against the Washington Commanders at Levi's Stadium on December 24, 2022 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

(Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

BY AMILIANO FRAGOSO

San Francisco 49ers Beat Writer

It’s official: The 49ers will be without offensive playmaker Deebo Samuel at the start of the New Year.

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel has been listed as out for Week 17’s trip to face the Las Vegas Raiders on New Year’s Day. Samuel, dealing with knee and ankle injuries, returned to practice for the first time Thursday in a limited fashion, marking the third straight contest he will miss.

“He did good,” head coach Kyle Shanahan said Friday. “Was able to do individual [drills] with us, run a bunch of routes, and then finished the rest of it on the side [of the field]. So he’s getting there and right on schedule.”

The Red & Gold playmaker suffered the injury in the second quarter of Week 14’s clash with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Getting tackled from behind, Samuel’s left leg was bent awkwardly, reeling on the ground in agony for a few minutes. Trying to get off the field under his own power, the cart was needed to take Deebo Samuel to the locker room. Initially fearing a serious injury for the South Carolina alum, the organization breathed a sigh of relief when tests revealed no significant damage to his lower left leg.

Kyle Shanahan hinted at a return to practice at the beginning of Week 17’s preparation, with that plan coming into fruition Thursday. While he has not been ruled out entirely, it has always seemed likely that the 49ers would hold him out until the team’s regular-season finale against the Arizona Cardinals.

Deebo is looking fresh in his first practice back after suffering ankle and knee injuries in Week 14. #49ers pic.twitter.com/9U7mlr593q

— Amiliano “Amil” Fragoso (@AmilianoFragoso) December 29, 2022

“We’ll see how practice goes. He’s got to do more practice than he did this week, but he’s definitely got a chance,” Shanahan stated.

Meanwhile, running back Elijah Mitchell will have his IR practice window opened next week. Mitchell has been on the injured reserve since spraining a second MCL in Week 12 against the New Orleans Saints. The team would have activated his window Thursday or Friday, however, he’s been home the last two days with an illness.