By admin 
The 49ers and Deebo Samuel are having a reunion after all.
A day after the team announced Ricky Pearsall is dealing with a concerning PCL injury to the same right knee that hampered him in 2025, San Francisco agreed to a one-year deal with Samuel on Thursday after the Washington Commanders declined to bring him back for a second season, a league source confirmed to The Sacramento Bee.
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Samuel, who turned 30 in January, could have a prominent role at receiver given Pearsall could miss significant time with the injury. The team said all options are being considered for Pearsall’s knee swelling, which could include surgery that could leave him out indefinitely. He missed eight games with the injury last year and participated in two training camp practices before the swelling sent him back to the sideline.
Samuel spent six seasons with the 49ers and played in two Super Bowls after being drafted 36th overall in 2019 and developing into one of the most unique skill players in the NFL. His best season in 2021 came when he was tasked with playing “wide back” working as a receiver and running back due to injuries in the backfield.
The deal is for one year and could be worth up to $7 million, according to a report from NFL Network.
Samuel is expected to be among the 49ers’ top receivers where he’ll play next to newcomer Mike Evans. The team also signed veteran Christian Kirk, who has been out since the opening training camp practice with a calf injury, and used the 33rd pick in the NFL draft on Ole Miss receiver De’Zhaun Stribling.
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Stribling has impressed during training camp and could have a significant role as a slot receiver following the departure of Jauan Jennings in free agency to the Minnesota Vikings. Jordan Watkins and Jacob Cowing are also competing to fill out the depth chart and are options in the return game. Veteran Demarcus Robinson is also competing for a roster spot.
Samuel departed from the 49ers in the 2025 offseason, when San Francisco traded him to Washington for a fifth-round pick the team used on running back Jordan James. The 49ers traded Samuel with a year left on his three-year, $71.55 million extension he signed in 2022 after his All-Pro season in 2021, when he had 1,770 yards from scrimmage (1,405 receiving, 365 rushing) and 14 total touchdowns.
He had over 1,000 scrimmage yards once over the following three seasons, and the 49ers decided to eat $31.6 million in dead money to trade Samuel, who counted for $17.5 million on the Commanders’ salary cap. Samuel with Washington in 2025 caught 72 passes for 727 yards and scored six total touchdowns, and never signed an extension after his contract ran out.
The 49ers will be back on the practice field at their Santa Clara facility on Friday, where they are expected to have their first padded practice of training camp.
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