Both Samuel (wrist, illness) and Kittle (foot) are officially listed as questionable for the game but probably will play, a boost for a Niners team that lost Brandon Aiyuk to a season-ending knee injury last weekend against the Kansas City Chiefs and also won't have fellow receiver Jauan Jennings as he continues to deal with a hip injury.
Samuel was hospitalized because of an illness that revealed fluid in his lungs after he managed to play only four snaps against the Chiefs. He remained in the hospital until Tuesday, sat out practice Wednesday and was limited Thursday and Friday.
Kittle, who's dealing with a foot sprain, also sat out practice Wednesday before returning in limited fashion Thursday and Friday.
Cornerback Deommodore Lenoir (illness) and safety George Odum (knee) remain questionable for San Francisco (3-4), which can get back to .500 with a win against the visiting Cowboys.
Information from ESPN's Nick Wagoner was used in this report.
Deebo Samuel's Pneumonia Scare
Deebo Samuel, the star wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers, had a scary experience earlier this week when he was hospitalized with pneumonia. Samuel was seen on the sideline during last Sunday's game against the Chiefs with an oxygen mask, and he only played three snaps before leaving the game.
After spending two nights in the hospital, Samuel was released on Tuesday and returned to practice on Thursday. He is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Cowboys, but is expected to play.
Samuel detailed his experience with pneumonia, calling it "scary" and saying he was "really couldn't breathe, for real." He described the discomfort he felt, even during pregame warmups, before the Chiefs game. "Probably when I went out to pregame warmups and I had no energy to run or anything for a while," Samuel said. "Then, I came in and we tried to do a little IV [to] get a little energy. Gladly, we found it right after the game and everything else as well.
"Yeah, it was scary, because it was kind of hard to breathe, for real. You can’t take deep breaths."
Kittle's Foot Sprain
The 49ers are also hoping to have tight end George Kittle back in the lineup against the Cowboys. Kittle sustained a foot sprain in last Sunday's game against the Chiefs, and he is also listed as questionable for Sunday's game.
Kittle was limited in practice on Thursday and Friday, and his status for Sunday's game is still up in the air. However, he is expected to play.
49ers Need Samuel and Kittle
The 49ers are already without wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, who is out for the season with a torn ACL and MCL. They also lost fellow receiver Jauan Jennings to a hip injury last week. The 49ers can ill afford to lose Samuel and Kittle, two of their most important offensive weapons, especially with a crucial matchup against the Cowboys on the horizon.
The 49ers are currently in last place in the NFC West, and they need to get back on track if they want to make the playoffs. A win against the Cowboys would be a huge boost to their playoff hopes.
Can the 49ers Make the Playoffs?
The 49ers are a talented team, but they have struggled with injuries this season. If they can get Samuel and Kittle back on the field, they will be a formidable opponent for any team in the NFL. But if they continue to struggle with injuries, their playoff hopes could be in jeopardy.
The 49ers will need to rely on their depth and their ability to overcome adversity if they want to make a run for the playoffs. They have the talent to do it, but they need to stay healthy and play their best football down the stretch.
The next few weeks will be crucial for the 49ers, and they need to find a way to get back in the win column. They will have a bye week after the Cowboys game, which should give them some time to heal up and get healthy. But if they don't start winning soon, their playoff hopes could be dashed.
The 49ers have a lot of talent on their roster, but they need to stay healthy and play their best football down the stretch.
The 49ers will be looking to bounce back from their loss to the Chiefs and get back on track against the Cowboys. If they can get Samuel and Kittle back on the field, they will be a dangerous team.
The game against the Cowboys will be a crucial one for the 49ers, and it will be interesting to see how they perform without Aiyuk and Jennings. If they can get Samuel and Kittle back on the field, they will be a dangerous team. But if they continue to struggle with injuries, their playoff hopes could be in jeopardy.
The 49ers have the talent to make a run for the playoffs, but they need to stay healthy and play their best football down the stretch.
