WR Deebo Samuel will also play running back and return kicks in second 49ers stint

Published August 1, 2026 05:08 PM Receiver Deebo Samuel is officially back with the 49ers, for a second time. And the 49ers won’t be holding him back when it’s time to play.On Saturday, G.M. John Lynch told reporters that Samuel will wear multiple hats during games.“You are going to see him in the return game, at receiver, and at running back,” Lynch said, via David Lombardi of the San Francisco Chronicle. “We are going to use him all over the field, and we are really excited to have Deebo back. We have a lot of history with him, we know the type of player he is, and he looks to be in really good shape.”Samuel became more involved in the running game in 2021, with 59 carries for 365 yards and eight touchdowns. Coupled with his 1,405 receiving yards and six touchdowns, it made him a first-team All-Pro.He had 42 carries in 2022, 37 in 2023, and 42 in 2024. Last year with the Commanders, he ran the ball 17 times for 75 yards. Samuel returned a decent number of kicks in the past two seasons. In 2024 with the 49ers, he had 17 kickoff returns for 533 yards, an average of 31.4 yards per return. In 2025 with the Commanders, he returned 15 kickoffs for 452 yards (30.1 yards).The more times any player touches the ball, the greater the risk of injury. And Samuel has a habit of fighting for every blade of grass, at all times.But Samuel has been largely durable throughout his career. And the 49ers will need him to make an impact on the offense, especially with Ricky Pearsall done for the year, Jauan Jennings gone via free agency, and Brandon Aiyuk stuck in a state of limbo that surely won’t result in him returning to the 49ers roster.