Deebo Samuel and the San Francisco 49ers don’t have anything to play for as they close up shop on the regular season Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams.
The 49ers (12-4) have already wrapped up the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage throughout the NFC Playoffs.
This doesn’t mean Samuel won’t suit up on Sunday. In fact, he’s planning on it.
If that does indeed happen, the All-Pro “weapon” will more than likely make NFL history. With four more rushing yards, Samuel will join Pro Football Hall of Famer Charley Taylor as the only player to rack up 4,000 receiving yards and 1,000 rushing yards within his first five seasons.
Thus far this season, Samuel has ut up 871 receiving yards with 214 yards on the ground while scoring 12 total touchdowns.
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Deebo Samuel to continue San Francisco 49ers’ record-breaking season?
“I feel like we’ll play in Week 18 for a good bit, keep the groove going and not take too much time off,” Samuel told Kay Adams on “Up & Adams. “It ain’t no negotiation. Once Coach says one thing, it’s all hands on deck.”
The belief is that Samuel and other starters will play for the 49ers outside of Christian McCaffrey. He’s dealing with a minor calf injury. There is no reason for McCaffrey to play. He’s already pretty much clinched the NFL rushing title and San Francisco doesn’t have anything to play for.
If Samuel does put up four rushing yards, it will be the culmination of a record-breaking season for the 49ers’ offense.
They are already the first team in NFL history to have a 1,000-yard running back, two 1,000-yard receivers (total yards) and a 1,000-yard tight end. Meanwhile, Brock Purdy broke Jeff Garcia’s single-season record for passing yards by a 49ers quarterback.
All of this equates to San Francisco being the top seed in the NFC and the odds-on favorite to represent that conference in the Super Bowl next month.