49ers star wideout Deebo Samuel injured vs. Packers, cleared to return after concussion evaluation

It only took a handful of plays in the playoffs for San Francisco 49ers fans to be put on edge. On the first offensive series of the postseason against the Green Bay Packers on Saturday night, star wideout Deebo Samuel left the game with an injury.

After staying down for an extended period following a gang tackle by the Green Bay defense, Samuel walked off the field slowly. He originally appeared as if he was ready to go back into the game before being taken to the blue medical tent for further evaluations.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport added that Samuel is being evaluated for a concussion and is questionable to return.

Deebo Samuel walked up to the sideline like he was waiting to go back in then was brought to the blue medical tent to be checked. He's in there now pic.twitter.com/E0gZgnGztT

— Bridget Condon (@BridgetCondon_) January 21, 2024

After a brief evaluation, Samuel was cleared to return, according to the San Francisco Chronicle’s Eric Branch.

Samuel later headed to the locker room early ahead of halftime

Despite holding a 7-6 lead and the ball at the two-minute warning of the first half, things weren’t looking up for Samuel, who is questionable to return with a shoulder injury. It’s his second ailment of the evening.

Samuel first left the game on the first series of the NFC divisional round matchup with the Green Bay Packers, getting evaluated for a concussion before getting cleared to return. Later in the half, he returned to the injury tent on the sideline for evaluation on a left shoulder injury.

He later left the tent and trainers could be seen performing a battery of tests on left left arm and shoulder. Shortly before the two-minute warning, Samuel was shown walking to the locker room ahead of his squad.

Samuel had two catches on two targets for 24 yards so far in the game.

A key Packer has inspired a victory lap online

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love is enjoying a breakout season.

The fourth-year quarterback has become the man the franchise needed him to be when they took him in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

And few are enjoying his success more than NFL Draft analyst Todd McShay. On Saturday, McShay decided to tweet at his former colleague, Mel Kiper, about Jordan Love.

As I sit down to watch Packers-49ers, I can’t help but wonder, @MelKiperESPN , do you still think I I’m crazy for ranking Jordan Love as QB3 (one spot ahead of Justin Herbert) in the 2020 NFL draft? Enjoy the game, bud!

— Todd McShay (@McShay13) January 21, 2024

The entire Green Bay offense simply couldn’t be stopped on Sunday in their Wild Card game against the Dallas Cowboys. Love carved up the Cowboy secondary all game long, putting on yet another spectacular performance.

He completed 16 of 20 passes for 272 yards, while tossing in three touchdown passes with no interceptions. That gave him a perfect 158.3 passer rating, making him the first quarterback in NFL history to do that in his playoff debut.

On3’s Wade Peery contributed to this report.