The 49ers rolled into Gillette Stadium on Sunday and dominated the New England Patriots from the opening kick. But the win could come at a price.
Running back Jeff Wilson left the game with an ankle injury after scoring his third touchdown, and wide receiver Deebo Samuel was ruled out with a hamstring injury shortly after Wilson was carted off.
Samuel had five catches for 65 yards before leaving the game, which ended in a 33-6 San Francisco victory.
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After the game, 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan gave an update on Samuel, saying the receiver's hamstring "pulled on him" during a run. Shanahan said the 49ers are "hopeful" Samuel won't miss too much time.
Hearing that the hamstring "pulled" on Samuel is an ominous sign for the 49ers, and almost certainly means he'll miss next week's game against the Seattle Seahawks.
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The 49ers can't afford another key injury to an offensive player. Running back Raheem Mostert was placed on injured reserve this week with an ankle injury and Tevin Coleman has been out since Week 2.
If Samuel has to miss a few weeks, that could force the 49ers to explore the trade market for a wide receiver.
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Samuel missed the first three games of the 49ers' season after suffering a Jones fracture in his foot during the offseason.
The second-year wide receiver is a key cog in Kyle Shanahan's offense and a favored target of quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.
With the 49ers now at 4-3 and trending upward, a serious injury to Samuel is something they can't afford if they want to survive their midseason gauntlet.