Deebo Samuel is one of the NFL’s toughest players who has been no stranger to injuries over his six-year NFL career.
Yet, Samuel recalled his scariest bout with injury yet, even though it did not cost him any games.
The Washington Commanders wide receiver recalled his scary bout with pneumonia that landed him in the hospital while playing for the San Francisco 49ers last year.
Samuel missed two games in 2024 but none due to the illness, which he sustained in San Francisco’s Week 7 date with the Kansas City Chiefs. Former teammate Brandon Aiyuk also sustained a catastrophic knee injury in that game.
What Did Deebo Samuel Say About Going To The Hospital With Pneumonia?
According to The Athletic, the signs were there for Samuel in the hours leading up to the game against Kansas City.
“Around 3 a.m. on October 20, less than 12 hours before the 49ers were set to host the Chiefs, Samuel awoke with a troublesome cough he couldnât shake,” Commanders beat writer Nick Jhabvala reported. “He called his IV therapist at 7 a.m. to administer fluids and do breathing treatments, hoping that would ease whatever he was dealing with and allow him to get through the game.
“When he arrived at Leviâs Stadium, he was short of breath, a rare feeling for a wide receiver in Week 7 of an NFL season. The pressure in his chest was too much for him to participate in pregame warmups, but after another IV, Samuel suited up and took the field.”
He told the news outlet of why he was forced to exit after playing only four snaps.
âI donât know whatâs wrong with me, but I cannot breathe,â he recalled.
Samuel received a CT scan, which confirmed the pneumonia, Aside from the scary nature of his illness, Samuel also has a phobia of being in the hospital. Luckily, hospital workers talked him off the ledge.
“I have anxiety when it comes to hospital beds,” Samuel said. “In my mind, if youâre in a hospital bed, something is nowhere near right. They told me I had to stay overnight, and Iâm like, âYo, Iâm not staying in here.â They had to calm me down and tell me we got to do this to make sure you cool.”
Samuel also detailed how difficult it was for him to recover, especially since he kept right on playing.
“Your lungs are definitely weak, coming from pneumonia,” Samuel said. “Youâre starting over from scratch. I built up this capacity to be in shape and now my conditioning is gone.
“There were ups and downs, and I got through the season. But I didnât feel like I had my wind back until the last two games, maybe.”
What Did Deebo Samuel Say About His Rapport With Jayden Daniels?
Though Terry McLaurin’s high-profile hold-in is taking up the oxygen from the Commanders locker room, Samuel’s rapport with superstar QB Jayden Daniels is one of the early season bright spots.
Samuel offered strong words of support for his first-year quarterback too.
“Heâs a great person, tremendous quarterback, makes every throw, calm, cool,” Samuel said. “Just that guy.â
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