San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel has surpassed 1,000 receiving yards only once in his six NFL seasons. That career-best performance came in 2021, when the versatile playmaker amassed 1,770 scrimmage yards and 14 total touchdowns, including an impressive 1,405 receiving yards. It was a season that earned him a lucrative contract extension.
However, Samuel's production has since declined. He totaled 1,117 scrimmage yards last season but failed to reach 900 receiving yards. This year, he has just 490 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown, putting him on pace to fall short of even last season's numbers.
One Hall of Fame wide receiver and former 49ers star believes Samuel needs to refocus to regain his dominant form. Terrell Owens recently shared his thoughts on Samuel's struggles, noting that a return to form could significantly benefit the 49ers down the stretch. The team currently sits at a disappointing 5-5 and last place in the NFC West.
"Deebo is not really playing up to Deebo's standards," Owens said Thursday on Bay Area radio station 95.7 The Game. "Deebo seems like he's more focused on his pregame attire than he is actually the game. So again, if we can shift that focus, maybe that can energize and create some more production from an offensive standpoint. I'm just kind of tongue-in-cheek with that."
Samuel has managed only two games this season with 100 or more scrimmage yards, reigniting speculation about a potential trade in the offseason.
Injuries have been impactful
Owens didn't place all the blame for the 49ers' offensive struggles on Samuel. He highlighted the injuries that have hindered the team's firepower this season.
Running back Christian McCaffrey missed the first eight games due to Achilles tendinitis, and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk suffered a torn ACL and MCL on October 20, ending his season prematurely.
"Again, you look at Christian McCaffrey," Owens said. "Again, if he was healthy, would they be different had he played early on? Probably so. So again, that probably factored in too. ... So now, as an offensive coordinator, you've got to figure out ways to make up for the lack of production and that firepower that you have on offense."
Jauan Jennings impresses
One bright spot for the 49ers' offense, according to Owens, has been wide receiver Jauan Jennings, who leads the team with 588 receiving yards this season.
"Honestly, he's been the brightest spot on that offense since day one of this year," Owens declared. "And I think, again, Jauan Jennings can only do so much. Jauan Jennings is a playmaker. I don't see him as a game-changer. You have guys with game-changing and playmaking ability—that's your Christian McCaffrey—that can take any play at any given point during the course of a play and make something happen.
"That's not just your Jauan Jennings, but he's been super productive. He's been the brightest star, brightest spot on that offense."
Owens highlighted that while Jennings lacks breakaway speed, he compensates with numerous other valuable traits that bolster the 49ers' offense.
"He has the physical attributes to bring some of that physicality to the game," Owens continued. "But, obviously, taking your short and intermediate routes and taking it to the house. He obviously has a catch radius. He can make plays. He can go up, take 50-50 balls, and turn those to 80-20 for him."
Owens noted he's been more impressed with Jennings than with Aiyuk, who struggled to build momentum before his season-ending injury despite signing a lucrative deal ahead of the season.
You can listen to Owens' entire interview below.