Deebo Samuel expected to miss at least a couple of weeks with hamstring injury, Kyle Shanahan says

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel is expected to miss at least a couple of weeks with a hamstring injury, according to coach Kyle Shanahan. The expectation of a multi-week absence adds a fresh challenge to a receiving corps that has already had to adjust its weekly rotations.

The hamstring designation matters because it is the type of injury that can affect more than one phase of a player’s role. Samuel’s workload typically includes routes designed to create space after the catch as well as offensive touches that depend on quick acceleration and burst. Even when players return in time for a game, teams often manage hamstrings carefully due to flare-up risk during practice and between sessions.

With Samuel sidelined, the 49ers will be forced to redistribute snaps among the remaining wide receivers and pass-catching options. That usually means more targets to the second tier of the depth chart and a larger share of short-to-intermediate routes that keep the offense on rhythm while reducing reliance on any one matchup. It also increases the importance of tight ends and running backs in both the passing game and in keeping defenses honest with play-action looks.

Shanahan’s comments set the baseline for how San Francisco appears to be planning the immediate stretch. “At least a couple of weeks” language typically indicates the team is not treating the injury as a short detour, even if there is room for improvement week to week. The next practical test will be how Samuel progresses in day-to-day practice activities and whether he can ramp up without setbacks.

This development also shifts how opponents can prepare. When a known offensive weapon is unavailable for a defined window, defensive staffs can allocate resources toward stopping the remaining game plan, especially around coverage schemes intended to limit the biggest downfield and after-catch threats. That can influence play calling, timing, and which portions of the passing tree the offense leans on most.

For the 49ers, the priority will be protecting efficiency while maintaining offensive continuity. Depth can be a strength in the NFL, but it often takes time for players to absorb targets and responsibilities that are normally shared with a starter of Samuel’s caliber. As the team moves through the span Shanahan referenced, the pattern to watch is whether San Francisco can keep drives moving and produce consistent explosive plays without having the offense feel overly constrained.