Bounceback performance from Deebo Samuel among lone highlights for 49ers in loss to Dolphins

Deebo Samuel has had a rough ride at times this season for the San Francisco 49ers, but his performance against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday inspired confidence that any fears of him not being the player he once was may be premature.

Samuel's numbers have been down this season, and coming into Sunday he often appeared to lack the spark and impact he showed on offense throughout previous years. Samuel's low point came in last Thursday's 12-6 home loss to the Los Angeles Rams, during which he dropped a pass that could have led to a touchdown just days after making a statement on social media about the lack of opportunities that have come his way this season. Local and national criticism poured in after that moment, but Samuel answered it on Sunday with seven catches for 96 yards, five carries for 25 yards, and a tackle-breaking touchdown on a third down play that proved he can still be a handful for opposing defenses to bring to the ground.

Samuel was asked about his performance after the game but deflected attention to the fact the 49ers weren't able to come out of Miami with a victory.

"At the end of the day, you want to get the win," Samuel said (via Matt Lively/KPIX TV). "Kyle (head coach Kyle Shanahan) stressed early in the week, 'Be on the details and everything else will take care of itself.' Ultimately at the end of the day, we just want to get a win."

But while Samuel didn't say much about his performance, his teammates were quick to send him praise, starting with tight end George Kittle.

"I think I told you guys like every week for like the last eight weeks that Deebo Samuel is a hell of a football player," Kittle said to reporters after the game. "And we just continue to give him the ball and you're gonna see it from him."

Kittle was preoccupied with trash-talking during Samuel's touchdown, but he singled out that play as well as other third-down conversions Samuel made during the game as the types of highlights he expects Samuel to create.

"I didn't see his touchdown," Kittle said. "I was talking crap to somebody because I saw he was about to score. But I think that was a really cool play. Then the third downs that he broke tackles on and stuff like that, you know, that's what I expect from Deebo all the time. He's a hell of a football player."

Joining in the praise for Samuel was quarterback Brock Purdy, who has had Samuel's back in recent weeks amid the criticism from the outside. Purdy praised the presence of both Samuel and Kittle, who had eight catches for 107 yards in the loss.

"Playing with George and Deebo and their heart and fight for our team and just trying to get things going for us, man, you just see it. And I'm very, very proud to be playing with them and their love for everybody on that field.

"They love coming to work with everybody here and going to war with all of us. We saw that out of both George and Deebo, and I'm just incredibly happy to be a part of playing with them and in life. Just the conversations that we have and stuff off the field, they've been really good to me and big brothers to me."

The 2024 season will likely go down as one Samuel will want to put in the rearview mirror regardless of what happens over the final two games, but he'll at least have the opportunity to head into the offseason with momentum if he plays like he did against the Dolphins. And perhaps a strong finish will get some of his critics back in his corner as well.

"You know, I think last week was tough on him," Kittle said Sunday. "And I wouldn't say there's anything different about Deebo this week. He still showed up, same guy every single day, good energy every single day. And I was just happy for him."