Kyle Shanahan and his San Francisco 49ers won against the Minnesota Vikings in their Week 12 showdown, but it came with a cost after star wide receiver Deebo Samuel left the game with a groin injury.
Samuel sustained the injury in the third quarter of the game. He was initially deemed as questionable, but he did not return as the 49ers went away with a 34-26 win. However, he was on the sidelines throughout the game and was clearly in good spirits.
In his postgame presser after the contest, Shanahan expressed his optimism about the issue, noting that he doesn't believe it is a significant injury.
“I don't think it's as bad as you worry. We're hoping it was a low strain,” Shanahan explained, per Niners Nation.
Of course there is some level of concern, which is why the 49ers will have Deebo Samuel undergo an MRI to extent the severity of the injury. Hopefully, though, Kyle Shanahan is right and the injury is not as troubling as it initially seemed.
Samuel was huge for the 49ers against the Vikings, finishing with two rushing touchdowns on six carries for 66 yards. He could have probably added more to his tally had he not been injured, as it was clear his absence affected the San Francisco offense in the final quarter where they failed to score.
It remains to be seen if Samuel will need to sit out some matches to heal from his injury, as groin issues could prove tricky and difficult to come back from. The 49ers have a two-game road trip ahead, visiting the Seattle Seahawks and Cincinnati Bengals in Week 13 and 14.