49ers Lose Deebo Samuel as Seahawks Capitalize on Turnovers

San Francisco's injury-depleted receiving corps suffered another setback Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026, when Deebo Samuel left the game against the Seattle Seahawks with a hamstring injury in the third quarter. The 49ers also benefited from a costly Seattle fumble near the goal line late in the first half, adding to a turnover-filled NFC West matchup. According to Sportsnet and TSN, Samuel was ruled out for the remainder of the game after leaving with 5:06 remaining in the third quarter.

He finished with two receptions for 21 yards and two rushing attempts for 4 yards. Samuel's injury occurred on a carry to the left side, when Seahawks linebacker Drake Thomas brought him down. Samuel lost possession of the ball as he went to the ground and remained on the field for several minutes before slowly walking to the San Francisco sideline with assistance from medical personnel, TSN reported.

Seattle cornerback Josh Jobe recovered Samuel's fumble. The Seahawks then scored a field goal four plays later, extending their lead to 26-21, according to Sportsnet.

The injury added to San Francisco's existing personnel problems at wide receiver. The 49ers entered the game without Ricky Pearsall, De'Zhaun Stribling and Demarcus Robinson, who were on injured reserve with knee and ankle injuries, respectively, according to TSN. San Francisco also lost Jacob Cowing to an ankle injury a few plays after Samuel's departure, during a kickoff return. Cowing was listed as questionable to return, leaving Mike Evans, Jordan Watkins and Brandin Cooks as the only healthy 49ers receivers available for the remainder of the game, TSN reported.

Seattle also made a costly mistake shortly before halftime. According to Yahoo Sports, running back George Holani fumbled near the Seahawks' goal line with 18 seconds remaining in the second quarter, allowing San Francisco to recover the ball in the end zone for a touchdown. The turnover came after San Francisco had punted, leaving the 49ers seemingly unlikely to have another scoring opportunity before halftime. Instead, Holani's lost possession gave the division rival seven points without requiring the 49ers to advance the ball downfield.

Yahoo Sports reported that Seattle's decision to hand the ball to a running back deep in its own territory drew criticism because the Seahawks needed primarily to protect possession and run down the clock. The team could have attempted a low-risk play to move the ball away from its goal line before the break. Although Holani was responsible for securing the football, the play call also raised questions about Seattle's approach with limited time remaining.

San Francisco had all three timeouts available, increasing the importance of avoiding a turnover in a dangerous field position. The game featured seven combined turnovers through three quarters, according to Sportsnet. Samuel's lost fumble and Holani's mistake were among the pivotal possession changes in a contest marked by injuries and costly errors on both sides.