49ers offense takes another hit with injuries before NFC West showdown

Just before a showdown with Seattle, the 49ers lose more offensive weapons.

Can the San Francisco 49ers catch a break? Even when they win, they still lose off the field.

49ers coach Kyle Shanahan announced Monday that the team would be without two prime targets in Week 8’s faceoff against the Seattle Seahawks. Wide receiver Debo Samuel is expected to miss this week after suffering a hamstring strain, while Jeff Wilson is out with an ankle injury.

The bad news only continues to pile on from there, as Wilson will be placed on injured reserve later this week and likely miss a month. Wide receiver and special teams standout Richie James is also day-to-day with an ankle sprain.

Samuel missed the first three games of the season after undergoing foot surgery this offseason. Since his return, the 49ers have found some stability at the wide receiver position. In his four active games, Samuel has recorded 16 catches for 185 yards and one touchdown. On Sunday against the New England Patriots, he finished with five receptions for 65 yards.

Wilson’s injury comes at a low moment following a special outing. Against the Patriots’ top-tier run defense, he finished with 112 yards and three touchdowns on 17 carries. Shanahan wasn’t pleased with the results from further testing after Wilson left in the third quarter.

“Not sounding great now,” Shanahan said.

Just how bad is San Francisco’s depth?

Both positions are in pure limbo right now as depth isn’t their strong suit. At running back, Raheem Mostert (ankle) was placed on the IR alongside Tevin Coleman (knee), leading to both being out for Sunday’s NFC West showdown.

At receiver, Trent Taylor, Kendrick Bourne and rookie Brandon Aiyuk will likely see a majority of reps. Combined, the trio has hauled in 43 catches for 596 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Aiyuk, however, was praised by the coaching staff after having six catches for 115 yards Sunday.

Depending on Samuel’s status, perhaps Dante Pettis could also be seeing reps before the trade deadline on Nov. 3. The former second-round target has been limited this season, targeted just once, and has been the subject of trade rumors.

If all else fails, Jerrick McKinnon’s time is right around the corner. Let’s see if “gadget-man” himself can finally thrive in the Shanahan system after missing most of the past two-and-a-half seasons.