49ers star receiver Deebo Samuel injures shoulder against Cleveland Browns, ruled out at halftime

CLEVELAND — San Francisco 49ers star wide receiver Deebo Samuel injured his shoulder in the first half of Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Browns and has been ruled out.

One of the NFL’s most dynamic offensive players, the versatile Samuel got hurt in the first quarter. The 27-year-old spent several minutes in the medical tent on the sideline before heading to the locker room.

The 49ers did not specify which shoulder Samuel hurt. He was initially called questionable before the team updated his status at halftime.

Before going out, Samuel, who was involved in a pregame skirmish between the teams, had two carries for 11 yards. He did not catch a pass.

Samuel came in with 20 catches for 302 yards and one touchdown. He also 84 yards rushing on 16 carries.

In 2021, Samuel had 77 catches for 1,405 yards and six TDs. He added 365 yards rushing with eight TDs.

49ers All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams briefly left with a right ankle injury but returned.

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While a recent report claimed Deshaun Watson’s injury could keep him out of uniform for several more weeks, there is a new piece of intel that suggests he actually could be back on the field in Week 7.

The Cleveland Browns are in a perilous position right now. The 2-2 team has one of the better defenses in the NFL, however, their offense has struggled and has yet to get on track in 2023. That is unlikely to happen anytime soon after starting quarterback Deshaun Watson suffered a shoulder injury in Week 3.

Related: Deshaun Watsons injury could lead to lengthy absence from Cleveland Browns lineup

The injury forced him out of their loss in Week 5 and is expected to keep him on the sideline again for their 1 PM ET visit from the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday afternoon. There is a good chance the Browns fall again in Week 6, and a report on Saturday did not give any hope a potential losing streak would cease after this week.

Yesterday, Cleveland Browns reporter Mary Kay Cabot had a deep rotator cuff contusion and could miss several more weeks. Well, following that report, ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter offered up some very different news.

Schefter claimed that “a deep rotator cuff contusion that has made it difficult for him to drive the football when he throws, but there is a belief that

the Browns quarterback could be ready to play as soon as next Sunday against the Colts, league sources told ESPN. ‘Hopefully, he’ll be back next week,’ one source told ESPN.”

Related: Kevin Stefanski addresses controversial takes about Deshaun Watsons desire to play for Cleveland Browns

The reports are hugely different and at this point, it is hard to get a read on when the three-time Pro Bowler will return to action. However, even if he has

not looked like the player he was with the Houston Texans as a member of the Browns, the offense is far better with him under center than rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson or PJ Walker.