49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel broke his foot during a throwing session, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Samuel suffered the injury on Tuesday in Nashville and he’ll have surgery today to correct the Jones fracture in his left foot. 
Samuel “should be able” to suit up “early in the season,” Rapoport hears, noting the 2019 second-round pick faces a 12- to 16-week timetable (Twitter link). It stands to reason that he won’t be ready to go in time for the opener, when the 49ers are slated to face the Cardinals on Sept. 13.
Samuel impressed as a rookie last year, hauling in 57 grabs for 802 yards and three touchdowns. This year, he was slated to serve as one of the team’s leading receivers, along with NFL frosh Brandon Aiyuk, Jalen Hurd, and Kendrick Bourne. The Niners may choose to stand pat, depending on how Samuel’s recovery goes, but they’ll likely assess available wide receiver options as well.
While it represents good news that Samuel will likely be able to return during the season’s first half, this is a considerable blow to a passing attack that lost Emmanuel Sanders. The 49ers allowed the 2019 trade acquisition-turned-Super Bowl starter to defect to the Saints in free agency. The drop from Samuel to the rest of San Francisco’s receivers is fairly significant.
The 49ers still employ 2018 second-round pick Dante Pettis, but after a promising rookie season, the Washington alum barely played down the stretch as an NFL sophomore. Slot receiver Trent Taylor is also returning from a broken foot, which cost him the entire 2019 season. That experience may prompt the 49ers to act swiftly to cover themselves on the wideout front.
Free agent options include Taylor Gabriel, who played for Kyle Shanahan with the 2016 Falcons. Jordan Matthews, whom the 49ers added last year, is also back on the market. So are Jermaine Kearse and Dontrelle Inman. Bigger names like Josh Gordon — who applied again for NFL reinstatement today — and Antonio Brown reside on the market as well. The 49ers were connected to the then-less controversial wideout last year but opted not to pull the trigger on a trade.
San Francisco has been aggressive on the trade market to plug holes recently, from adding Sanders to giving up more draft capital to acquire Trent Williams shortly after Joe Staley‘s retirement. It would not be surprising to see the defending NFC champions make a move to bolster this position while Samuel recovers.
i know injuries can hapen at any time. but how does one break a foot in throwing practice? only way i see it if he jump up and landed wrong
we dont need to sign a WR. just ride it out if all goes well. we have a soild rookie, we have hurd who was drafted last season, bourne who step up alot. not to forget taylor was hurt alot too. no need to freak out and rush to sign anyone. give the guys we have a chance
They shouldn’t sign anyone yet but Hurd and Taylor were hurt all of last year. I wouldn’t be surprised if they both don’t contribute much this year. Bourne is now pretty much the #1 WR and Aiyuk #2 and that’s not really that good.
why deeboo was our number one last season and he was a unknow and look how that turn out. bourne a proven player so there that. who to say taylor and hurd cant help this season. that was last season not this one. till reports come out they cant play. ill have them in talks to help. plus lets not forget pettis,the WR we sign early off season and the rookie 7th round pick. not like we dont have talent. heck 49ers won alot of games with what we had before sanders came. so i trust what we have
I wouldn’t call Deebo unknown by any stretch. I drafted him on my Dynasty team last year. Yeah I’ll stash him this season but his stats at South Carolina were solid
he was a unknown because no one knows how a rookie WR will pan out year one. no one knew for sure he would step up when they needed him the most.
Josh Gordon is looking for work!
you also cant trust gordon to last. dude been in and out of the league too many times.
want Goodwin back for a 4th (:
The Niners have ample depth at the position, but I believe they should trade for a veteran presence. None of their receivers are above 26 (excluding Benjamin because he’s a non-factor). Thus, I think they should trade with Houston to acquire Kenny Stills. Stills would be a speed complement to the physical games of Kittle and Aiyuk. Furthermore, he would force Pettis to step up his game and actually play to his potential