Deebo describes ‘scary’ pneumonia experience ahead of 49ers-Cowboys game originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Star 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel is still recovering from pneumonia that sidelined him during San Francisco’s 28-18 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs last weekend at Levi’s Stadium.
He spent Sunday through Tuesday in the hospital with fluid in his lungs, but is making cautious progress before San Francisco’s Week 8 game with the Dallas Cowboys on “Sunday Night Football.”
“To be honest, I really couldn’t breathe,” Samuel told reporters on Friday. “I didn’t really know what was going on until after the game.”
Living, let alone sprinting while wearing shoulder pads and a helmet, has been difficult for the 28-year-old. But Samuel knew something was especially wrong when even adrenaline couldn’t energize him during pre-game warmups before the highly anticipated Super Bowl LVIII rematch.
“Probably when I went to pre-game warm-ups and I didn’t have the energy to run for a while or something,” Samuel said. “Then I came in and we tried to do a little IV [to] get a little energy. Luckily we found it right after the game and everything else too.
“Yes, it was scary because it was really hard to breathe. You can’t take a deep breath.”
Deep breathing is essential for any athlete. It was smart of Samuel to reassess it instead of playing morbid.
Fortunately for Samuel, he is in much better shape ahead of the 49ers’ Week 8 matchup with the Cowboys, claiming he was “feeling good” during recent practices, a promising sign.
However, the hospital stay was not so positive. Samuel didn’t like the doctor’s office, but he would play video games to distract himself.
“I have hospital anxiety,” Samuel said. “I don’t like being in the hospital. But no matter what it took to get better, you know I’m all for it. Those two days there, it was cool. I had my brother there [and] bring my game. I was really chilling there and getting all the treatment I needed.
San Francisco missed Samuel’s production last Sunday. He could be nearing a return as coach Kyle Shanahan listed him as questionable for the 49ers-Cowboys game earlier on Friday.
Samuel has been known for his strength and speed throughout his six-year NFL career. These qualities were evident during his recovery from pneumonia.
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