“You read what you read, a little frustrated for sure,” Samuel admitted.

The All-Pro wide receiver has been a non-factor in the 49ers’ passing game in recent weeks, managing just 85 receiving yards over the last four games. He’s also seen a significant drop-off as a runner. Last season, Samuel carried the ball 37 times for 225 yards and five touchdowns. This season, those numbers have plummeted to 32 carries for 92 yards and one touchdown.

Samuel attributes the decreased touches to opposing defenses finally catching on to his dual-threat capabilities.

“They’re not surprised anymore,” Samuel said. “We’ve been doing it for almost three years now, so it’s kind of you got a 50/50 chance, whether I’m in the backfield, getting a handoff or end around or anything along those lines.”

Samuel is in open communication with head coach Kyle Shanahan about his role and his desire for more involvement.

“Oh, yeah, 100 percent, yeah,” Samuel confirmed when asked if he talks to Shanahan about getting touches.

With the 49ers’ playoff hopes hanging by a thread, reigniting Samuel’s explosiveness could be crucial for their postseason aspirations. However, with frustrations mounting, the 49ers face a challenging situation.