49ers bring back Deebo Samuel on short deal. What it could mean

Amid injuries to a couple of their top wide receivers, the San Francisco 49ers have turned to an old friend.

>Veteran wide receiver Deebo Samuel is returning to the team that drafted him on a one-year deal worth up to $7 million, according to NFL Media and ESPN insider Ian Rapoport.

>He'll join a wide receiver corps that includes veteran Mike Evans and rookie De'Zhaun Stribling. Christian Kirk and Ricky Pearsall were expected starters for San Francisco entering training camp, though Kirk is dealing with a calf injury and Pearsall has had a flare-up with the PCL injury in his knee that he suffered last year.

>Samuel played the first six years of his career for the 49ers after the team drafted him in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He played the 2025 season with the Washington Commanders, where he led the team in receptions (72), receiving yards (727) and receiving touchdowns (5) amid injuries to quarterback Jayden Daniels and wideout Terry McLaurin.

>This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 49ers bring back Deebo Samuel on short deal. What it could mean