49ers’ Brock Purdy makes honest admission about losing Deebo Samuel to the Commanders

The upcoming NFL season will be a pivotal one for the San Francisco 49ers, as they look to bounce back from a disappointing campaign. Unfortunately for quarterback Brock Purdy, he’ll be without a key weapon—Deebo Samuel has made the decision to join the Washington Commanders.

The attack in the Bay Area will no longer be the same as it once was. The wide receiver has risen to become one of Purdy’s most sought-after targets in recent seasons, a partnership that 49ers fans will miss starting Week 1.

Samuel joining Jayden Daniels and the Commanders was a tough blow for Purdy, not only because of what he represented on the field, but also due to the strong relationship the two players had built since the QB’s arrival in the league.

“It sucks, dude. He’s my boy,” Purdy said, via 49ersWebzone.com. “I love Deebo. Day 1, he’s always had my back and believed in me when I got in. I didn’t really know how the guys were going to take it when I did get thrown in. Jimmy went down, I was the last quarterback, and Deebo was nothing but just great to me, dude, building me up, and just giving me confidence.

“In games, we fed off each other’s energy and building each other up. It was awesome, and over the last couple of years, same thing. So, we created just a great relationship. He’s my brother.”

Purdy won’t be alone

While Samuel’s departure to the NFC East could represent a major setback for the San Francisco 49ers, the truth is that Purdy won’t be alone on offense heading into the upcoming NFL season.

As some players continue recovering from injuries, Kyle Shanahan still has several options to support his quarterback across the various snaps to come. Brandon Aiyuk emerges as the primary receiving threat through the air, while Ricky Pearsall will look to earn more playing time.

In addition, players of the caliber of George Kittle, Christian McCaffrey, and Jauan Jennings will be other reliable options for Purdy to lean on week after week.

The first challenges for the 49ers

• @ Seattle Seahawks, September 7th – Lumen Field
• @ New Orleans Saints, September 14th – Caesars Superdome
• vs Arizona Cardinals, September 21st
• vs Jacksonville Jaguars, September 28th
• @ Los Angeles Rams, October 2nd – SoFi Stadium