George Kittle, Kyle Juszczyk Vouch For Deebo Samuel 49ers Reunion In Free Agency

George Kittle, Kyle Juszczyk vouch for Deebo Samuel 49ers reunion in free agency originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

It appears some of Deebo Samuel’s former 49ers teammates want the star receiver back in the Bay.

Samuel, still an unrestricted free agent with training camps opening soon across the NFL, posted a series of workout pictures to Instagram this week captioned, “Let The Chips Fall Where They May.”

The comment section did the rest. Kyle Juszczyk went first: “I have a guest house with your name on it.” George Kittle followed, replying directly to Juszczyk: “I also have a guest house labeled ‘Deebo’s second home.’

It read like a joke. It also read like two former teammates who genuinely miss him.

The 49ers selected Samuel with the 36th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, and he spent six seasons building a reputation as one of the most versatile weapons in the league — a receiver who coined his own nickname, “wide-back,” for a game that blended wideout routes with running back production.

The 49ers traded him to Washington last offseason. His lone season with the Commanders produced modest but respectable numbers: 72 catches for 727 yards and five receiving touchdowns, plus 17 carries for 75 yards and a rushing score across 16 games. Washington has since moved on, leaving Samuel searching for a new home with training camp less than two weeks away.

On paper, the 49ers do not have an obvious opening. San Francisco overhauled their receiver room this offseason, signing Mike Evans and Christian Kirk while drafting De’Zhaun Stribling in the second round. But there is a real practical case underneath the sentimental one; Kittle is working back from an Achilles injury that could limit him for stretches of the season, and Samuel’s exact skill set is the kind of after-the-catch production the offense would miss most if Kittle’s snaps get managed carefully.

It would not be the first time the 49ers leaned on a familiar face mid-season out of necessity — Kendrick Bourne rejoined the team last year in a similar depth role after an injury-driven need opened up. Whether Samuel’s situation plays out the same way remains to be seen, and a reunion is far from guaranteed given the crowded room and salary-cap realities.

But if it were up to Juszczyk and Kittle, the decision already would be made. There is a guest house waiting either way.

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