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Deebo Samuel might go from a hospital bed on Tuesday to the 49ers’ starting lineup on Sunday. But even if the resilient receiver returns from the pneumonia that kept him out for most of last week’s loss, San Francisco has another area of concern before the Cowboys visit on Sunday: Special teams.

That’s because the 49ers (3-4) are allowing 18.4 yards per punt return, worst in the league by more than 3 full yards (Las Vegas is 31st at 14.9). What’s more, on kickoffs, the average starting field position for San Francisco opponents is the 33-yard line, also worst in the NFL. Head coach Kyle Shanahan doesn’t need any reminders.

“We’ve got to get a lot better at it,” he said this week. “It’s pretty obvious to everybody. It’s obvious to us and it’s been that way for a few weeks. I can’t give you guys one narrative on it, because there’s not one narrative. It’s about working with everyone, holding people accountable and coaching them up the best we can to get them better.”  

And while Dallas running back Dalvin Cook is expected to make his debut for the Cowboys (3-3) on Sunday Night Football (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC), hoping to boost a dismal ground game, another Cowboys player might make an even larger impact, KaVontae Turpin.

The electric Dallas wide receiver leads the league with 40.0 yards per kickoff return. He also returned a punt 60 yards for a touchdown in the Week 1 victory at Cleveland. Look for him to try to exploit San Francisco’s weakness in the return game.

It’s a critical game for hangover-ailed San Francisco, which needs a win to avoid the cellar in a tight NFC West. Seattle (4-3) enters Week 8 with a one-game lead over the 49ers (3-4), Cardinals (3-4) and Rams, who also improved to 3-4 with an impressive win Thursday night over Minnesota. A San Francisco win, however, could vault the team into first place should Seattle lose to Buffalo, and Arizona lose at Miami on Sunday. San Francisco registered a 36-24 victory at Seattle on Oct. 10 but the 49ers lost four days earlier to the Cardinals.

Dallas, meanwhile, is perfect on the road. While losing all three at home, the Cowboys have won all three away games in 2024, tied with Detroit for the league’s best road record. Dallas brings a four-game road winning streak into Levi’s Stadium, after winning its final road game last season.


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By Zak Gilbert

Since his freshman year at the University of Colorado, Zak has worked 30 years in sports, including 18 NFL seasons. He's spent time with four NFL teams, serving as head of communications for both the Raiders and Browns. A veteran of nine Super Bowls, he most recently worked six seasons in the NFL's New York league office.

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