San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel has been working out with another Pro Bowl NFL player this offseason—New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley. Training camps are just weeks away, and players are working hard to stay in shape and prepare for the rigors of the upcoming season.
Saquon Barkley working out with Deebo Samuel 👀
I'm telling y'all now, 26 is going to have a BIG year for the #Giants 🔥 pic.twitter.com/NdmJWDZC1g
— HITSQUAD PRODUCTIONS (@HITSQUADPROD_) July 3, 2023
Samuel recently admitted that he was disappointed by his performance last season. After an impressive breakout 2021 campaign, where the do-everything wide receiver amassed 1,770 total yards and 14 total touchdowns, Samuel's 2022 outing was less remarkable. He registered just 864 total yards, less than half that of the previous year, and five total touchdowns.
"Oh, it was awful. Every aspect," Samuel said while assessing his individual 2022 campaign.
Samuel received a hefty payday last offseason, signing a three-year, $71.55 million extension after remaining away from the 49ers during the entire offseason program and requesting a trade. The receiver admitted that the "distraction" impacted his preparation.
"I was kind of behind a ball a little bit as far as being in my routine that I'll normally be in for the offseason, getting ready to play because, like I said, a lot of distractions were going on," Samuel said. "I kind of felt it, but I was just trying to will my way to help the team in every aspect possible."
Samuel, 27, hopes to return to form in 2023. The 49ers made the receiver a second-round pick out of South Carolina in 2019. He has recorded 4,012 all-purpose yards and 26 total touchdowns during his four NFL seasons, proving to be a threat in both the passing and run games.
"I'll never put nothing like that back on tape again," Samuel said of his 2022 efforts.
