The 49ers had the grim task of reviewing another mistake-ridden loss Monday, but Deebo Samuel wasn’t there to see it.
Samuel, who reported for work feeling ill Sunday morning before the 49ers’ 28-18 loss to the world champion Kansas City Chiefs, was in the hospital recovering from pneumonia.
“He had some fluid in his lungs, so technically pneumonia,” Shanahan told local media during a conference call. “He went in last night. It started acting up in the middle of the night Saturday night or early Sunday morning and it kind of evolved as the day went. Once we found out there was fluid in his lungs after the game, they set him (to the hospital). I found out Sunday night when I was home.”
Samuel needed an oxygen mask at one point early in the game, and he was out of uniform for the second half.
Samuel’s illness, combined with a season-ending knee injury to Brandon Aiyuk just before halftime and a hip injury that sidelined Jauan Jennings had the 49ers adjusting their receiving plans on the fly.
It’s conceivable that Samuel and Jennings could be available when the 49ers host the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night, but it’s not a sure thing.
Even with the missing receivers, Shanahan saw enough watching the film to believe the 49ers’ fifth straight loss to Kansas City during his tenure was self-inflicted, much as defeats to the Rams and Cardinals were earlier this season.
The players first met with Shanahan for an overview of all three phases (offense, defense and special teams), then adjourned to position group meetings where plays both positive and negative were examined in detail. Considering the 49ers cut Kansas City’s lead to 21-12 with a chance to draw within one score with plenty of time left, the message was there was the potential for a win rather than another difficult loss.
“It’s always hard to come in after a game like that to watch it,” Shanahan said. “I thought the guys handled it well though. I wanted to show that as bad as it did feel, how many times we had a chance to win. I’m not trying to take anything away from Kansas City, but we hurt ourselves and there are things we dictate.
“We did it at times got close, but made too many mistakes . . . if you don’t correct that stuff, it doesn’t matter who you play. You end up being a .500-type team.
Middle linebacker Fred Warner was eager to move on to Dallas.
“You can do one of two things, You can sulk in defeat or you can see what the reality is, fix it, move on and win a game next week,” Warner said. “There’s so many things that are going to be said about where we’re at, about that team. That’s not going to help us move forward. That’s not going to help us next week. We have to look at the reality of what it is, flush it, move on and win a game.”
THE BROCK TALK
Shanahan made light of a postgame chat with quarterback Brock Purdy at his locker. Purdy had perhaps his worst game as a 49er by going 17-for-31 for 212 yards, no touchdowns and three interceptions and a career-low passer rating of 36.7.
The two talked for five minutes in front of a group of reporters.
“I didn’t realize all you guys were standing behind me spying on us,” Shanahan said. “I just happened to be walking back and he was standing right there . . . I didn’t realize everyone was still in there. Then when I looked behind you guys kind of scared me. I didn’t realize everyone was creeping so bad.”
Regarding Purdy’s performance, Shanahan said, “Brock’s having a hell of a year. He didn’t have his best game yesterday.
POST-BYE REINFORCEMENTS
Running back Christian McCaffery is continuing to make progress as he recovers from Achilles tendinitis in both ankles. He’s a longshot to face Dallas, although he could be included in reinforcements following the bye week in Week 9.
“Christian is still progressing through his rehab,” Shanahan said. “He hasn’t had any setbacks so it’s been all good news so far. I’d be surprised to get him back this week, but hopefully the bye week will go well and we’ll have a much better chance after the bye week.”
Other post-bye additions, although not necessarily in Week 10, include linebacker Dre Greenlaw (Achilles) and place kicker Jake Moody (high ankle sprain)
Players who came out of the Chiefs game injured included tight end George Kittle (foot) and wide receiver Chris Conley (ankle).
SNAP JUDGEMENTS
A look at how playing time was distributed in the 49ers’ loss to the Chiefs . . .
70: After missing the Seattle game with a knee injury, Charvarius Ward played every snap along with safety Ji’Ayir Brown, cornerback Deommodore Lenoir, Warner and safety Malik Mustapha.
54: Left tackle Trent Williams missed the last nine snaps of the game, giving way to Jaylon Moore after being ejected for throwing punch at the Chiefs’ Bryan Cook. The rest of the starting line, Aaron Banks, Colton McKivitz, Jake Brendel and Dominick Puni played all 63 snaps.
44: Defensive tackle Jordan Elliott played a season high in terms of snaps and had three solo tackles and one assisted tackle.
39: Linebacker Dee Winters played a career-high number of snaps while Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles didn’t play on defense but had 16 snaps on special teams.
36: Defensive end Sam Okuayinonu played a season-high number of snaps. HIs role is ascending in the absence of Yetur Gross-Matos with 19, 24 and 32 snaps in the previous three games coming into the Chiefs.
25: Brandon Aiyuk, after being injured late in the first half, won’t take his next snap until 2025.
5: Cornerback Isaac Yiadom was coming off a game in Seattle where played a season-high 77 snaps (99 percent). Supplanted by Green, the rookie, had a season-low five snaps against the Chiefs.
4: Samuel tried to play but ended up hospitalized.
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