​Barely 24 hours after signing a one year deal worth up to $7 million to return to the San Francisco 49ers, Deebo Samuel was back on the SAP Performance Facility practice fields on Saturday.Dressed in familiar red and gold and sporting his signature No. 19 jersey once again after a friendly “little transaction” with third year receiver Jacob Cowing, Samuel went through individual drills and took roughly 10 snaps during team reps. He immediately reconnected with quarterback Brock Purdy, hauling in three passes, including a signature crossing route over the middle for a splash gain.For the 30 year old playmaker, his 2025 detour with the Washington Commanders already feels like a distant memory.”It kind of felt like I didn’t even go nowhere, to be honest,” Samuel told reporters after practice. “When I got back, I was just like, ‘Well, I know what’s going on. I know the people here. Staff still the same.’ So it’s kind of like the same for real.”A Month in the MakingWhile the timing of Samuel’s signing coincided with the grim news that wide receiver Ricky Pearsall will undergo season ending PCL surgery on his right knee, general manager John Lynch revealed that a reunion was brewing long before Pearsall’s setback. Lynch noted that internal discussions about bringing Samuel back started nearly a month ago. Despite trading Samuel to Washington for a fifth round selection last offseason, both Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan kept personal lines of communication wide open.”Conversations with me, John, and Kyle have just always kind of been the same,” Samuel said regarding his free agency. “It was just a matter of time before it happened.”Samuel posted 72 receptions for 727 yards and five touchdowns in 16 games with the Commanders last year. When he hit free agency this spring, he stayed patient. A Shifting Role: Dynamic Kickoffs & Special Teams SparkWhen Samuel previously suited up in Santa Clara, he was the focal point of Shanahan’s “wide-back” offense. But with future Hall of Famer Mike Evans on the boundary, Christian Kirk in the slot, and Christian McCaffrey dominating touches, Samuel enters 2026 with an open mind.”Roll with the punches,” Samuel said when asked about his offensive expectations.Lynch did reveal that one immediate area where Samuel will make a massive impact is the NFL’s revamped kickoff return game. After losing returner Skyy Moore in free agency, San Francisco plans to feature Samuel on return duty right away.”The dynamic kickoff has brought the kickoff return back to the game,” Lynch explained. “You’ve got to be really well positioned… He’s committed to kind of doing that. We look forward to using him there. But then offensively, you guys have seen him, and I think Kyle has a great vision in being real creative in how we use him.””He’s the Juice of the Offense”Within the locker room, the response to Samuel’s return was electric. Before the deal was even finalized, team leaders like George Kittle and Kyle Juszczyk offered