Niners receiver Deebo Samuel cleared for NFC Championship Game - ESPN

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — In the days after injuring his left shoulder on Saturday against the Green Bay Packers, San Francisco 49ers receiver Deebo Samuel had legitimate fear that his season might end.

Less than a week after Samuel feared he had suffered a second hairline fracture, he and the 49ers got the news they'd been hoping for Friday: He has been cleared to play in Sunday's NFC Championship Game against the Detroit Lions.

«A game like this, you've got to put everything on the line,» Samuel said. «We've been here four out of the last five years and three years we fell short and one year we fell short in the Super Bowl. It's kind of like, 'What is it going to take?' I feel like we've got all the things that we need in this building… it's all hands on deck and we know what's at stake.»

While Samuel and the Niners are pleased just to have him available for the team's third NFC Championship Game appearance in as many seasons, the bigger news might be that Samuel has no limitations or restrictions entering this game. Coach Kyle Shanahan even said it's possible Samuel will continue to get kick return opportunities.

When Samuel was asked if he's worried about how he will protect himself from further injury, a defiant Samuel made it clear that's the least of his concerns.

«I ain't protecting nothing,» Samuel said.

Samuel's return comes after a physically and emotionally trying Saturday night against the Packers. He suffered the shoulder injury while battling for extra yards after a catch with 5:35 left in the opening quarter of the NFC divisional round win.

After multiple attempts to go back into the game, Samuel eventually had to shut it down, which created some tense moments for him watching from the sideline.

«At the time