There’s a high chance that Deebo Samuel may not play on Sunday. That’s the news coming out, anyway. And it’s not that he’s the main pillar on which the San Francisco 49ers’ offense rests. But he’s one of the better wideouts and having him on gridiron could swing the game in their favor. But then there’s also the possibility that the team might decide to rest him.

If the 49ers beat the Lions, they will make it to the Super Bowl. And then they would need all their best weapons. As dark clouds of doubt hang over his status, Ian Rapoport shares his perspective.

Can Deebo Samuel play on Sunday?

The 28-year-old had hurt himself during the Packers game. He had to be removed from the game because of a left shoulder injury. The entire second half of the matchup, he watched from the sideline. Samuel was actually first checked for a concussion. But then he was cleared and then he had a battery of tests done on him.

The 49ers’ fans can let out a sigh of relief. The tests revealed no fracture. Not even a hairline fracture! What about his actual status? “It’s up in the air,” Rapoport admitted helplessly. Samuel started rehab soon after. A source told Adam Schefter of ESPN that his chances of playing were “50-50“. But HC Kyle Shanahan had something else to say.

Read More: “Definitely Not”: Nick Sirianni Shatters Opinions of Benching Jalen Hurts Amid Eagles’ QB’s Health Rumors

Naturally, reporters asked him about Samuel’s status. And his reply was that he does think that he could play in the Lions game. How has the team performed in his absence?

The 49ers had a tough time when playing without Samuel

This is not the first time that something like this has been happening to him. During Week 6, he suffered a fracture in the same shoulder. However, thankfully, it just turned out to be a hairline fracture. He missed two straight games and made his absence felt. The Niners ended up losing both games.

Over the regular season, the team recorded 7.1 yards per play. That was when he was on the gridiron with them. Once he was sidelined, that number fell to 5.7. And that’s a significant drop brought about by the absence of just one player. The upcoming game is a crucial one as the Niners will be playing host. They wouldn’t want to crash out of the postseason after a home game.

Watch This Story: “Be an Example”: Jalen Hurts Reveals His Role in ‘Difficult’ Locker Room Conversations