Deebo Samuel isn't the only San Francisco 49ers wide receiver who suffered an injury this week. Mike Garafolo of NFL Network is reporting that Richie James Jr. will be sidelined at least two months with a broken bone in his wrist.
Deebo Samuel (broken foot, as per @RapSheet) isn't the only #49ers WR to suffer an injury recently. Sources say WR/KR Richie James Jr. broke a bone in his wrist while training. Likely to be sidelined at least two months.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) June 19, 2020
The 49ers later confirmed the injury, saying it was a fractured right wrist, and that the team won't have a recovery timetable until players report to training camp. NFL players who did not have existing injuries before closures are still unable to enter team facilities due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
James will not require surgery, according to the 49ers.
Garafolo states that the injury occurred while training. James was not listed among the contingent of players practicing together this week at the Brentwood Academy, just outside Nashville, Tennessee, which is where Samuel's injury occurred. Matt Barrows of The Athletic later reported that the injury happened in Florida.
James' injury occurred in his native Florida not during the Nashville-area throwing sessions where Deebo Samuel broke his foot. https://t.co/zq8m7eJ7zB
— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) June 19, 2020
San Francisco made James a seventh-round draft pick out of Middle Tennessee State in 2018. He has recorded 15 receptions for 295 yards with two touchdowns over the past two seasons while being a significant contributor on special teams.
James was the team's leading kick returner last season, averaging 21.4 yards on his 20 returns. He also led the team in punt returns with 264 yards on 33 returns (8.0-yard average).