On Monday, a Deebo Samuel social media post kicked up dust between the receiver, his San Francisco 49ers teammates and coaching staff. In an attempt to squash any lingering doubts about the team's cohesion, head coach Kyle Shanahan addressed the subject when pressed by the media, per SF Chronicle's Eric Branch.
"It's water under the bridge," Shanahan said.
Samuel later removed the post in question, which stated, "Not struggling at all just not getting the ball!!!!!!!"
He later clarified his emotions, telling the press, "You read what you read. I was frustrated, for sure."
The 49ers emphatically won their game Sunday, 38-13, against the Chicago Bears. Samuel collected just two catches for 22 yards. He hasn't scored a touchdown since Week 6.
Samuel only had one game with 10 or more targets, which came in Week 2 against the Minnesota Vikings, when he caught eight of 10 targets for 110 yards.
Shanahan continued to speak on how he likes to handle team business.
"We'd always love for things to stay in-house," Shanahan said. "That's probably why I don't mess with social media. I'm sure I'd get worked up, too, if I was reading stuff about myself all the time."
Brock Purdy also addressed Samuel's comments, noting how close the pair is and how hard they work to do what's best for the team.
The 49ers (6-7) are still in the thick of the playoff hunt but face a critical divisional matchup in Week 15 against the Los Angeles Rams.
Related: Brock Purdy Breaks Silence on Rumored Tension With Deebo Samuel
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This story was originally published December 10, 2024, 8:25 PM.