Shanahan Says Deebo Samuel, Taybor Pepper Squashed Beef, McCarthy Confirms Rush as Cowboys’ Starter

49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan revealed that Deebo Samuel and Taybor Pepper have resolved their heated sideline exchange, while Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy confirmed Cooper Rush will remain the starting quarterback after Dak Prescott's injury. McCarthy plans to add a third QB to the roster for the season.

Deebo Samuel and Taybor Pepper Resolve Sideline Altercation, 49ers Focus on Week 11 Momentum

A heated exchange on the San Francisco 49ers sideline between wide receiver Deebo Samuel and long snapper Taybor Pepper gained significant attention during the team's narrow victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 10, per Sports Illustrated.

Despite a game-winning field goal by Jake Moody from 44 yards as time expired, the 49ers’ field goal unit struggled throughout the 23-20 win. Moody missed three out of his six field goal attempts, one of which sparked frustration from Samuel on the sideline. Samuel's frustration escalated when he challenged Moody to elevate his performance, leading to an altercation with Pepper. The situation became tense, with Samuel shoving Pepper in the heat of the moment.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan addressed the incident, clarifying and downplaying the severity. Speaking to reporters on November 11, Shanahan explained that Pepper "overreacted a little bit" following Samuel's challenge to Moody. While things escalated briefly, he emphasized that the two players have since "squashed" any issues. Shanahan labeled the overall response to the altercation an "overreaction," adding that the team is moving past the incident.

The win pushed the 49ers to a 5-4 record for the season, and they will look to build momentum in Week 11 when they face off against the Seattle Seahawks.

Cooper Rush to Remain Cowboys' Starting QB Despite Struggles in Loss to Eagles

Meanwhile, the Dallas Cowboys experienced a dismal 34-6 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on November 10. Backup quarterbacks Cooper Rush and Trey Lance took over in place of Dak Prescott, who is expected to miss the rest of the 2024 season due to a hamstring injury requiring surgery.

Head coach Mike McCarthy confirmed that Rush will remain the starting quarterback. However, with Prescott sidelined for the foreseeable future, McCarthy also mentioned plans to add a third quarterback to the roster for the remainder of the season, according to WFAA’s Ed Werder.

Rush struggled in the loss, completing 13 of 23 passes for 45 yards and no touchdowns. After the Cowboys’ third fumble in the third quarter, McCarthy substituted Rush with Lance, who had an equally challenging performance, completing only 4 of 6 passes for 21 yards and one interception. Lance’s first drive ended in a fumble, and his second drive culminated in an interception.

The Cowboys' performance was well below expectations, particularly at the quarterback position. McCarthy will need to better prepare Rush for the starting role. The Cowboys will face the Houston Texans on November 11 Night Football in Week 11, looking to regroup and improve their performance.