Deebo Samuel's key drop part of a bad night for the 49ers offense

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Deebo Samuel called for the ball more often this week on social media.

When the ball came his way at a big spot in the game for San Francisco, Samuel ended up dropping it in a key play in a 12-6 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night that just about doomed the playoff hopes for the 49ers.

The play in question came midway through the third quarter with the game tied at 3 and the Niners driving for a go-ahead score. Brock Purdy targeted Samuel on a slant over the middle on third-and-10 and hit him right in the hands.

But he dropped it instead, turning a potential touchdown into a field goal and leading to boos from the home crowd.

“I catch that ball, there’s nothing there but the end zone,” Samuel said. “At the end of the day, I gotta catch that rock.”

Instead, it was part of another lackluster day for a player who has gone from an All-Pro in 2021 to an unproductive one this season. Samuel tried to explain why he has gained only 97 yards from scrimmage the previous four games when he posted: “Not struggling at all just not getting the ball!!!!!!!”

Samuel later deleted the post, but not after it caused a bit of a social media firestorm and called it a matter of frustration.

The Niners tried to get him involved early Thursday night with Purdy throwing to him on the first play only for it to get broken up. Samuel ended the night with three catches on seven targets for 16 yards and two rushes for 3 yards as he was held to less than 30 yards from scrimmage for a fifth straight game.

But it was the play in the third quarter that stings the most.

“That was a big one,” coach Kyle Shanahan said. “Third down, and with Deebo’s skillset, it was a shot and we didn’t score on the play. Deebo clearly needs to catch that ball.”

It was that type of game for the 49ers, who were held to their fewest yards (191) in a regular- season game in eight seasons under Shanahan and the fewest points since scoring three in Shanahan's debut in 2017.

“Not good enough,” Shanahan said. “I thought we played good enough to win obviously on defense and special teams. But we didn’t get enough done on offense.”

There was plenty of blame to spread around. Both offenses struggled during heavy rain in the first half when there was a heavy downpour but the 49ers weren't any better when the conditions improved after halftime.

After settling for a field goal on their first drive of the third quarter, the 49ers stalled. Purdy couldn't connect on a deep shot to Samuel on the next drive that ended with a punt.

Then after falling behind 9-6, Purdy missed an open Ricky Pearsall on a deep throw with the Niners in Rams territory. Two plays later, his deep shot to Jauan Jennings was intercepted by Darious Williams in the end zone.

“Looking back on it, second-and-11, just be smart, try to check the ball down when I can’t see where he is at,” Purdy said. "So, just got to learn from it.”

It was a rough night overall for Purdy, who was held to less than 160 yards passing for the third time in four games. He went 14 for 31 for 142 yards with the interception and failed to lead a single TD drive.

The Niners lost a game when they didn't allow a TD for the first time since 2007 and are all but eliminated from playoff contention.

“I just feel like I had a lot of plays left out there that I could have made for our team,” Purdy said. "I thought the defense and special teams played so good. And that’s what’s hurting me is I just feel like I failed the team. I could have been better for our offense and we could have put up more points

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Los Angeles Rams cornerback Darious Williams (24) intercepts a pass in front of San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings (15) during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy speaks at a news conference after an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams in Santa Clara, Calif., Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy, bottom, reacts after being sacked by Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Kobie Turner, top, during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. (1) runs against the Los Angeles Rams during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr., center, is tackled by Los Angeles Rams linebacker Christian Rozeboom, front right, and others during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. (1) runs against Los Angeles Rams cornerback Darious Williams, left, during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. reacts after dropping a pass against the Los Angeles Rams during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Stephen Curry's pregame warmup is always a must-see show at Chase Center long before the main event, and the cheers were extra loud for his latest session now that he's finally healthy and back.

Curry ran out to the floor greeted by a warm ovation and was set to play about 25 minutes against Houston on Sunday night in his return from a two-plus-month absence because of a right knee injury.

Coach Steve Kerr said before the game that it's still unclear how many of the remaining games Curry will play given Golden State has five contests in eight days with a back-to-back the rest of the way — and the expectation is he wouldn't play on consecutive nights.

“We're going to manage it accordingly. The plan for tonight would be shorter bursts and we'll see on the minutes,” Kerr said. “But first game back he's not playing 48 minutes.”

The schedule will be determined by how Curry feels and input from Vice President of Player Health and Performance Rick Celebrini.

Rockets coach Ime Udoka knew Houston would have its hands full with No. 30 back.

“One of the best movers in the game. Four other guys at a time are concentrated on getting shots for him, so that’s not just one guy, and then does a good job in general with all the screens, off-ball actions, and pick-and-rolls,” Udoka said. "It’s a team effort. We need to be locked in on that, and obviously we’ve seen him enough and know some things that have hurt us in the past, and we need to prepare for that with him coming back.”

Curry scrimmaged several times this past week to test his injured right knee, and he said Saturday it was never a consideration to shut it down for the rest of the season. Kerr hoped to have Curry and younger brother Seth finally play together.

Kerr had said Saturday that Curry was expected to play for the first time since Jan. 30 against Detroit, though the Warriors listed him as questionable.

"He’s scheduled to play," Kerr said pregame Sunday.

After Saturday's practice, Curry said dealing with the pain is part of his “new normal” and the offseason will require a significant reset.

The 38-year-old Curry initially expected to be playing right after the All-Star break, but the recovery was prolonged by some difficult moments when he would feel good, push hard then pay for it the following day.

Curry leads the Warriors in scoring with 27.2 points per game and it has been frustrating.

The Warriors (36-41) had lost three straight games overall and were 13-25 this season without Curry — including 9-18 during this stretch with him sidelined by patellofemoral pain syndrome.

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Fans watch as Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, foreground, warms up before an NBA basketball game against the Houston Rockets, Sunday, April 5, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry warms up before an NBA basketball game against the Houston Rockets, Sunday, April 5, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry warms up before an NBA basketball game against the Houston Rockets, Sunday, April 5, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry warms up before an NBA basketball game against the Houston Rockets, Sunday, April 5, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Golden State Warriors forward Gui Santos, from left, reacts from the sideline with Quinten Post, Seth Curry, Will Richard and Stephen Curry during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Cleveland Cavaliers in San Francisco, Thursday, April 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, left, smiles while shaking hands with Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell after an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Thursday, April 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Injured Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, middle, smiles while talking with Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden (1) and guard Donovan Mitchell after an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Thursday, April 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)