Kyle Shanahan reacts to Deebo Samuel's viral claim on lack of role in the 49ers offense

Deebo Samuel's tweet on Monday could've been the precursor for a crisis at the San Francisco 49ers. The wide receiver posted that he wasn't struggling in 2024, instead not having many touches. The now-deleted post quickly went viral.

However, it looks like the franchise decided not to extend the issues further, keeping discussions in-house. Coach Kyle Shanahan was asked about Samuel's post, and instead of burning bridges, he kept the situation calm, stating on Tuesday that it wasn't a problem and that he'll continue to work on touches for the wide receiver.

Shanahan's response resembles what quarterback Brock Purdy said on Tuesday about the situation. When asked, he also did not escalate the situation further:

"Deebo and I talk all the time and he’s one of my best friends on this team. I absolutely love Deebo and what he’s done for me and helping me out. We talk all the time and he’s right"

Deebo Samuel's 2024 production has declined in the 2024 season

It's correct to say that the wide receiver is getting fewer touches. He's averaging the least amount of targets during his career, with just 5.3 per game. Brandon Aiyuk's emergence took the role of WR1 from him in recent years, and now with Aiyuk's injury, Jauan Jennings has become Purdy's main target.

He's averaging worse numbers than what he did in his rookie year when he quickly became a gadget player for Shanahan. In 2024, he currently has 40 receptions, 553 yards and a single receiving touchdown. He also has 32 rushes, 92 yards and another score.

It's difficult to explain why his production has gone down. However, this was a key year for him to get better numbers, with Aiyuk and Christian McCaffrey out for most of the season, but his lack of impact has been one of the biggest disappointments for the team in 2024.

In 2025, he's set to cost $28.2 million with his cap hit, and with $31.51 million as dead cap, San Francisco has no means to release him. If they can't trade Deebo, the only other option will be to keep him.