The San Francisco 49ers are motivated heading into the 2023 season. After a disappointing finish to last season, a loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship Game, the 49ers are hoping to get over the hump this season.
One player who is especially motivated is wide receiver Deebo Samuel. After earning a spot on the All-Pro team with a dominant 2021 campaign, Samuel’s production took a step back during the 2022 season.
He struggled to stay healthy, playing in only 13 games and wasn’t as dynamic on the field. His yards per reception dropped from a league-high 18.2 in 2021 to only 11.3 last season. His yards per touch was an elite 13.0 in 2021 as well, but dropped all the way to 8.8 last season, the first of his career which wasn’t in double-figures.
That drop in production, in what Samuel deemed an “awful” season, led to him focusing on getting in shape this offseason. He accomplished that goal, reporting to training camp leaner and ready to go.
“I’d say this is probably the best shape that I’ve been in since the 2019 year,” Samuel said. “You know, you got that long time of working out, a long time of preparation. I took them 40 days away and really got to it and got to where I wanted to be.”
That is certainly a scary thing for opponents to think about as they have already seen how dominant he can be. If he is in better shape now than he was in 2021, who knows the heights he can reach with the 49ers in 2023?
Part of the reason he believes that is because of the kind of work he was doing this offseason. In between the 49ers’ mandatory minicamp and training camp, Samuel didn’t take a break. He was working out in Arizona with trainer Nick Hill, getting quicker and faster.
“I think the heat kind of played a part in that, too, because Arizona is hot,” Samuel said. “We was doing a lot of running, a lot of cardio, a lot of stuff to kind of trim the fat a little bit. A lot of track working out. Then, I got into a routine of flexibility, mobility, and then I got into boxing a little bit.”
49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan has seen the progression that Samuel has made this offseason. He was getting updates regularly in the form of photos from his star wide receiver.
“Never had a grown man send me so many pictures with his shirt off, but it looks good, and I can tell he’s put the work in,” Shanahan said Wednesday, via David Bonilla of 49erswebzone.com.
