Deebo Samuel Sr.

Deebo Samuel converted his only target for a five-yard touchdown while adding three rushes for 16 yards in a Week 17 shootout loss to the Lions on Monday night.

Samuel saw three early carries that resulted in 16 yards but managed just one target following the team’s first possession, taking a significant backseat to rookie Ricky Pearsall, who set a career high with 141 yards and a touchdown, George Kittle, who went for 112 yards, and Jauan Jennings, who tied for the team lead with 10 targets. For Samuel to be so little involved when quarterback Brock Purdy set his own career high with 377 pass yards speaks volumes to Samuel’s pedestrian season this year. Further complicating matters for Deebo was the departure of Purdy with a throwing arm injury with under a minute to play, something that could force backup quarterback Joshua Dobbs to start in the team’s season finale against the Cardinals.