The 2024 season was a tough one for new Washington Commanders wide receiver Deebo Samuel. He started 15 games for the 49ers, but finished the season with only 51 receptions, 670 receiving yards, three touchdowns, 136 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown.

Others on the outside expected more from Samuel. What many didn’t realize is that Samuel was dealing with a scary illness. Before a game against Kansas City last season, Samuel experienced difficulty breathing and a lack of energy. Yet, he still played. However, he would play only four snaps before he was ruled out for the remainder of the game.

Samuel was later hospitalized, where he was diagnosed with a case of pneumonia. He spent a couple of nights in the hospital, was released, and somehow played the following week.

After the season, Samuel wanted a fresh start. And the 49ers were looking to shed salaries so they could re-sign quarterback Brock Purdy. Washington was a perfect match. General manager Adam Peters was in San Francisco when the 49ers picked Samuel in the 2019 NFL draft and brought him aboard as another weapon for star quarterback Jayden Daniels.

After Monday’s practice, Samuel spoke to reporters, where he discussed last season’s illness.

“Pneumonia? Yeah, brother, the pneumonia story was crazy,” Samuel said. “I was sleeping one night and woke up at probably like two, three in the morning and couldn’t stop coughing, but I never had pneumonia and never knew what it was. So, I wake up in the morning, get ready for the game. I called my IV lady to come do some breathing treatment, get an IV, because I just thought I was like dehydrated or just needed some sugar or something along those lines.

And going out there to pre-game warmup, I just couldn’t breathe, literally couldn’t breathe, couldn’t move. So, I went in the training room, got another IV, I just thought something just wrong. And then probably four or five plays in the game, I feel like if I would’ve went another play I probably would’ve crashed. So, I was just like, ‘Hey coach, something isn’t right, we gotta see what’s going on.’ And I go to the hospital, and my whole chest is like flamed up. So, I was in the hospital probably like three, four days and got out and me, the competitor. The competitor I am, I just put myself in the position to be in the best shape possible and just go out there and contribute to the team.”

Samuel has received a lot of unfair criticism in recent years, especially since his trade to Washington about his conditioning. During minicamp last month, Samuel was shown jogging one route during installs and, of course, social media ran with it. It even led to former teammate George Kittle stepping in to defend Samuel.

Since that time, Samuel has shared numerous workout videos, showing that he’s in phenomenal shape and highly motivated to prove he has plenty left in the tank.

“I still got a lot in the tank,” Samuel said. “Like I just said, I just go out here and get better every day. Whatever position they put me at to go out here and make plays, I’m going to do the best of my ability.”

Washington didn’t take a big gamble on Samuel. The Commanders only sent a fifth-round pick to the Niners for a potential Pro Bowl receiver. He looks to be a perfect fit for offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury’s offense.

The Commanders couldn’t be any happier than to have Samuel as part of an offense that was ranked in the top three all of last season. They got better this offseason, and Samuel is a big part of that improvement.

This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Deebo Samuel describes ‘crazy’ pneumonia story from last season