49ers Now: Breaking down Deebo Samuel's projected role for 2026 NFL season
On "49ers Now," Bonta Hill, Matt Maiocco and Rod Brooks discuss Deebo Samuel's return to San Francisco from training camp in Santa Clara.
49ers Now: Breaking down Deebo Samuel's projected role for 2026 NFL season originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Video Transcript
Matt, you brought up Deebo Samuel.
I know you weren't here Fr- practice Saturday, but it looked like Saturday's practice where Deebo basically first day in camp, now this is his second day in pads, this dude's getting all the reps with the first team- Yeah second team, and it's hard to envision a situation where Deebo's not heav- heavily utilized in this offense.
Yeah, no, and, and th- his thing is the versatility.
I mean, you, what, what we saw from him before was he was a wide receiver, you know, he was a little bit limited as a wide receiver, but a darn good playmaker who could also be a running back, and on occasion, return kicks.
Well, now it seems like he's gonna be doing all those things.
So it- it's really, I know he had that one-year stint with the Washington Commanders, but, you know, since he got here on Saturday it's, it feels like nothing has changed.
And this is the first time I've had a chance to lay eyes on Deebo with the Niners.
I was telling this to Monte, he looks different physically.
And to me, he seems to be moving faster.
He seems to be moving quickly.
But talking about his versatility, and as, add to this if you saw this as well, what I saw Deebo do today, he had a wide receiver screen, lined up in the backfield, he was in motion, even tried a pass play that, uh- Yeah they didn't get off, but- Right they're using Deebo Samuel like Deebo Samuel is supposed to be used.
