Deebo Samuel was hospitalized with pneumonia as problems continue for the 49ers

San Francisco 49ers star wide receiver Deebo Samuel gave it a try against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.

Ahead of the game, it was reported that Samuel was questionable about going due to an undisclosed illness. Samuel suited up and took less than a handful of snaps before returning to the sideline with the rest of his teammates.

Ultimately, he was ruled out for the remainder of the game, which the 49ers lost 28-18. It's the same game in which fellow receiver Brandon Aiyuk suffered a torn ACL and ACL in his knee, sidelining him for the remainder of the 2024 NFL season.

We now have more information about Samuel. It's not good. And in reality, he cares more about his health than anything else. Head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters on Monday that Samuel is currently in the hospital battling fluid in his lungs and pneumonia.

This explains why Samuel had trouble breathing and needed oxygen on the sidelines at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara. The fact that he tried to go for it is pretty crazy considering the news that came out a day later. Obviously, Samuel's health takes priority over football.

As for a possible return to the field for next Sunday's game against the Dallas Cowboys, Shanahan declined to provide a timetable.

From an on-field perspective, this is even more brutal news for a 49ers team that is currently 3-4 on the season and faces a daunting task moving forward.

In addition to Samuel's illness and Aiyuk's serious injury, the 49ers were without fellow wide receiver Jauan Jannings due to a hip injury. His status for next week is not yet known.

That includes reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year running back Christian McCaffrey missing the first seven games with an Achilles tendon injury. He is unlikely to play next Sunday, with a possible return date being Week 10 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Kyle Shanahan addresses NFL trade rumors amid 49ers injury news

There are still two weeks until the NFL trade deadline on November 5th. This deadline comes at a time when the 49ers are typically rumored to be involved in trade talks at all.

That organization finalized a contract for McCaffrey before the 2022 season deadline. San Francisco also acquired pass rusher Chase Young from the Washington Commanders last season. General manager John Lynch always has his phone active at this point in the NFL calendar.

When speaking to reporters on Monday about Aiyuk's injury, Shanahan indicated that the 49ers will actively look for improvements.

“It lets you see into everything. Of course, since more issues came up yesterday, they're still reviewing everything,” Shanahan told reporters, via NBC Sports Bay Area. “It depends on what options there are and what things we can implement that will help us now and not hurt us in the future.”

While the 49ers expect Samuel, Jennings and McCaffrey to return after their Week 9 bye, an upgrade is likely on the cards.

However, Shanahan also knows that the market will play a role when it comes to the 49ers' plans at the deadline.

“Often it’s just a life of hope. The answers aren't always out there. You have to be willing to make the people in your building better and deal with what you have in your building,” Shanahan said. “If you find something that makes sense, we will never hesitate, but it is not always as available as you hope.”

We've seen the wide receiver market perform strongly ahead of the NFL trade deadline on November 5th. Last week, the New York Jets acquired Davante Adams, while the Buffalo Bills signed fellow Pro Bowler Amari Cooper from the Cleveland Browns.

Forbes5 San Francisco 49ers wide receiver options to replace Brandon AiyukFrom Vincent Frank

It remains to be seen whether this market will remain active in the next few weeks.

As mentioned above, San Francisco is 3-4 this season. In the five games following the team's bye in Week 9, it faces the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Seattle Seahawks, Green Bay Packers, Buffalo Bills and Chicago Bears.

If Samuel is unable to face the Cowboys, rookie Ricky Pearsall will see more action. The first-round pick made his NFL debut Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs after being the victim of a shooting in a botched robbery in San Francisco in August.

Fellow rookie Jacob Cowing will also be asked to take on a larger role. It's obviously not a good situation for the reigning NFC champions as the rest of October plays out.

For now, attention turns to Dallas on Sunday. If the 49ers lose this home game, they will be 3-5 heading into the bye and essentially in the midst of a lost season.