Terrell Owens: Deebo needs to change direction, Jennings is a bright spot for 49ers

Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel has only surpassed 1,000 receiving yards once in his six seasons in the NFL. That career-best performance came in 2021, when the versatile playmaker amassed 1,770 yards from scrimmage and 14 total touchdowns, including an impressive 1,405 receiving yards. It was a season that earned him a lucrative contract extension.

However, Samuel’s production has since declined. He totaled 1,117 yards from scrimmage last season, but failed to reach 900 receiving yards. This year, he has only 490 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown, falling short of last season’s numbers.

A Hall of Fame wide receiver and former 49ers star believes Samuel needs to refocus to return to his dominant form. Terrell Owens recently shared his thoughts on Samuel’s struggles, noting that a return to form could significantly benefit the 49ers down the stretch. The team currently sits at a disappointing 5-5 record and in last place in the NFC West.

“Deebo’s not really playing up to his standards,” Owens said Thursday on Bay Area radio station 95.7 The Game. “Deebo seems to be more focused on his pre-game outfit than on the game. So again, if we can change the focus, maybe it can energize and create more production from a standpoint offensive I’m just kind of tongue-in-cheek with that.”

Samuel has only two games this season with 100 or more scrimmage yards, reigniting speculation about a potential trade this offseason.

Injuries have had an impact

Owens didn’t place all the blame for the 49ers’ offensive struggles on Samuel. He highlighted the injuries that have hampered the team’s firepower this season.

Running back Christian McCaffrey missed the first eight games with Achilles tendonitis, and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk suffered a torn ACL and MCL on October 20, ending his season prematurely.

“Again, look at Christian McCaffrey,” Owens said. “Again, if he was healthy, would they have been different if he had played from the start? Probably. Again, that probably factored in as well. … So now as coordinator offensively, you have to find ways to compensate for the lack of production and firepower you have on offense.”

Jauan Jennings impresses

According to Owens, a bright spot for the 49ers offense has been wide receiver Jauan Jennings, who leads the team with 588 receiving yards this season.

“Honestly, he’s been the brightest spot on this offense since Day 1 of this year,” Owens said. “And I think, again, Jauan Jennings can’t do much. Jauan Jennings is a playmaker. I don’t see him as a game changer. You have guys with game changing abilities and playmaking – he’s your Christian McCaffrey – who can take any play at any given moment during a game and make something happen.

“He’s not only your Jauan Jennings, but he’s been super productive. He’s been the brightest star, the brightest spot on this offense.”

Owens pointed out that while Jennings lacks breakaway speed, he makes up for it with many other valuable traits that strengthen the 49ers’ offense.

“He has the physical attributes to bring some of that physicality to the game,” Owens continued. “But, obviously, taking your short and intermediate routes and taking them to the house. He obviously has a catch radius. He can make plays. He can go up, take 50-50 balls and turn them into 80-20 for him .

Owens noted that he was more impressed with Jennings than Aiyuk, who struggled to gain momentum before his season-ending injury despite signing a lucrative deal before the season.

You can listen to Owens’ full interview below.

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