San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said Tuesday that he expects injured star wideout Deebo Samuel to return in “three-ish” weeks.

An MRI exam on Monday revealed that Samuel sustained a sprained left ankle and a sprained MCL in his knee during Sunday’s game. Early reports said Samuel would be sidelined until the playoffs. The Niners have four regular-season games remaining.

Meanwhile, new QB1 Brock Purdy practiced Tuesday in a limited fashion, his rib/oblique injury more of a pain tolerance issue.

“I feel good,” Purdy said Tuesday, noting that he was sore Monday.

“It wasn’t excruciating pain or anything like that,” he said.

Shanahan said Purdy “won’t be able to make it worse” if he plays Thursday night against Seattle.

Samuel was injured Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and left the game after his leg bent awkwardly underneath him while being tackled on a 3-yard run, a play that finished with Tampa Bay recovering his fumble. Samuel attempted to get off the field under his own power before needing the assistance of a cart.

An emotional Samuel was in tears as he was taken from the field, and the team initially announced the injury was to his knee.

Samuel, 26, had four carries for 21 yards and a touchdown and four catches for 43 yards before leaving the game.

For the season, Samuel has 54 receptions for 612 yards and two touchdowns and has rushed for 228 yards and three scores.

–Field Level Media