The 49ers might be forced to play in Sunday’s NFC Championship Game against the Detroit Lions without one of their key offensive players, Deebo Samuel.
The star wide receiver injured his shoulder early in Saturday’s divisional-round win over the Green Bay Packers. The injury is in the same shoulder that forced him to miss several games during the regular season when doctors discovered a hairline fracture. There is no fracture this time, but his status is reportedly “50/50” for Sunday’s game with a shot at the Super Bowl.
The Niners’ offense struggled without Samuel last weekend against Green Bay, and coach Kyle Shanahan noted that Samuel was expected to be a major part of the game plan. That begs the question: Is Samuel the most important player to the 49ers’ success?
Hey may not be the No. 1 option through the air (Brandon Aiyuk) or on the ground (Christian McCaffrey) but his versatility and physicality make him a matchup nightmare. He sets the tone for the team.
Other candidates include quarterback Brock Purdy, running back McCaffrey and left tackle Trent Williams.
Brock Purdy
We saw in Saturday’s win both the good and bad of Purdy’s impact. He struggled to grip the ball throughout the game, throwing several interceptable passes and otherwise looking out of rhythm with his receivers. But in the end, he was the key to the winning touchdown drive, completing 6-of-7 passes for 47 yards, then adding 11 yards on two runs.
Christian McCaffrey #23 of the San Francisco 49ers runs with the ball during the second half of a game against the Washington Commanders at FedExField on Dec. 31, 2023 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
Christian McCaffrey
McCaffrey, like Samuel, puts the 49ers’ opponents in position to make difficult choices because of his versatility. He was the NFL’s leading rusher by nearly 200 yards and didn’t even play in the 49ers’ final game. He led the league in touchdowns, too, between his 14 rushing scores and seven receiving (tied for first on the team).
Trent Williams
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Williams has gotten all sorts of plaudits from people who would know. McCaffrey said he may be the best player he has ever seen. Tight end George Kittle frequently refers to him as the team’s best player, even though the average fan may not recognize how much an all-world left tackle can do. Williams missed the same games as Samuel — injured in Cleveland, out against the Vikings and Bengals — and the offense simply could not get going. His return in Jacksonville showed that defenders fear him.
A serious case could be made for Aiyuk, the top receiver, or tight end Kittle, whose zest for blocking impacts the run game beyond his pass-catching.
Cast your vote below. (Players listed in alphabetical order)
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