The San Francisco 49ers are gearing up for their third consecutive NFC championship appearance, but star wide receiver Deebo Samuel's availability for the game against the Detroit Lions remains uncertain.

Samuel suffered a shoulder injury during the NFC divisional matchup against the Green Bay Packers and was ruled out for the second half of the game. According to 49ers Head Coach Kyle Shanahan, Samuel did not participate in Wednesday's practice due to the lingering shoulder pain.

While the coach did not provide further details about the nature of the injury, he confirmed that Samuel's shoulder still hurts. This raises questions about his readiness to return for the crucial NFC championship game on Sunday.

The rest of the 49ers team participated in full during Wednesday's practice, signaling their preparedness for the upcoming matchup. In an earlier update, Shanahan revealed that although Samuel was in considerable pain, imaging tests showed that his shoulder was not broken.

Samuel's injury occurred in the first quarter of the game against the Packers when he went down hard after a 9-yard reception. He was initially evaluated for a possible head injury but was cleared to continue playing. However, he later exited the game due to the shoulder injury.

The NFC championship game is expected to bring an economic boost to Santa Clara as it marks the Niners' return to Levi's Stadium after losing the past two seasons on the road. The team has a record 19 appearances in the conference title game, but their performance over the past two decades has been inconsistent, with only seven winning records in the last 21 seasons.

The Detroit Lions, making their second appearance in a conference game, will be the formidable opponents that the 49ers need to overcome to secure a spot in the Super Bowl. The Niners have made it to the NFC title game in each of the seven seasons they had a winning record, making them one of the most successful franchises in recent years.

As the team continues to prepare for the NFC championship game, the focus will be on the recovery of Deebo Samuel, whose availability could greatly impact the 49ers' chances of making it to the Super Bowl. Fans and analysts alike eagerly await further updates on Samuel's condition as Sunday's game approaches.