49ers rule out WR Deebo Samuel (shoulder) vs. Browns ESPN
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Nick Wagoner, ESPN Staff WriterOct 15, 2023, 03:02 PM ET
Close- Nick Wagoner is an NFL reporter at ESPN. Nick has covered the San Francisco 49ers and the NFL at ESPN since 2016, having previously covered the St. Louis Rams for 12 years, including three years (2013 to 2015) at ESPN. In his 10 years with the company, Nick has led ESPN's coverage of the Niners' 2019 Super Bowl run, Colin Kaepernick's protest, the Rams making Michael Sam the first openly gay player drafted to the NFL, Sam's subsequent pursuit of a roster spot and the team's relocation and stadium saga. You can follow Nick via Twitter @nwagoner
CLEVELAND -- San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel departed Sunday's game against the Cleveland Browns late in the first quarter with a shoulder injury. Already without Samuel, the Niners also lost running back Christian McCaffrey in the second half to an oblique injury.
After Samuel was initially listed as questionable to return, the team ruled out that possibility at halftime. McCaffrey was also listed as questionable when he suffered his injury in the third quarter before being ruled out with 10:58 left in the game.
It was not immediately clear when or how Samuel injured the shoulder, though an injury update was given on him at the same time as left tackle Trent Williams, with 3:14 left in the first quarter. Williams had his right ankle rolled up on but returned to the game a couple of offensive snaps later.
Editor's PicksSamuel spent about 10 minutes in the blue medical tent during the second quarter before heading to the locker room for the rest of the first half. He had two carries for 11 yards before the injury.
McCaffrey attempted to return to the game after he initially hurt the oblique in the third quarter, but he departed again after one carry that was called back for a holding penalty. He had 11 carries for 43 yards and three catches for 9 yards and a touchdown before exiting.
Ray-Ray McCloud and Jauan Jennings stepped in for Samuel while Jordan Mason and Elijah Mitchell picked up the slack for McCaffrey.