An awkward moment in the trenches may end up costing San Francisco 49ers rookie defensive tackle Gracen Halton more than just criticism.
During Monday Night Football, with the 49ers facing the Washington Commanders in a game that started as a blowout before tightening up by the fourth quarter, Halton was caught on camera delivering a low hit to Commanders right guard Sam Cosmi. Cosmi was already engaged with another player when Halton came flying in and launched himself at Cosmi’s knee, a shot Cosmi never appeared to see coming.
The play immediately drew attention for the wrong reasons. Pro Football Hall of Fame tight end Shannon Sharpe called it out on his official X account, writing: “Dirty A** play by 93 of the 49ers,” Pro Football Hall of Fame tight end Shannon Sharpe wrote on his official X account.
“That’s bush league. Could really injure that man.”
Cosmi was forced off the field after the hit, and the Commanders had already been dealing with a rough night on the injury front. Star Washington receiver Terry McLaurin was carted off with an injury that could keep him out for weeks, leaving Washington hoping Cosmi’s situation doesn’t turn into another long-term problem.
Now Halton may have to deal with the league’s response as well. The footage is the kind that tends to bring a call from the NFL office, and that could be coming this week.
On the scoreboard, San Francisco finished the job, beating Washington 23-17 on Monday Night Football to improve to 6-0. The Commanders fell to 1-4-1.
In Other News...
49ers Undefeated Buzz Just Ran Into A Much Tougher Reality
The 49ers left Monday night with another win and a little more edge to their undefeated start, thanks in part to a game-ending sack from rookie Romello Height against Washington. Brock Purdy also added a notable entry to the record book during the victory, underscoring how well San Francisco has handled the early part of the season even as the performances keep getting tougher to keep up.
Now comes the part where the schedule starts asking harder questions. San Francisco is already managing injury concerns for its receiving corps, with Mike Evans working through an Achilles issue and Deebo Samuel dealing with a hamstring problem that could hang around, and the next stretch brings Atlanta, Dallas, Minnesota and Seattle in succession. For a team that has looked sharp enough to fuel real buzz, this is the kind of run that can quickly turn a promising start into a much more revealing test. [Read more 🡒]
George Kittle Made The 49ers Mindset Clear At 6-0
The 49ers kept rolling in Week 6, moving to 6-0 with a win over the Washington Commanders, and George Kittle helped frame the mood afterward. For a team with that kind of record, the easy trap is to start thinking several steps ahead, but Kittles comments centered on a much simpler approach: one game at a time, one week at a time, with the focus staying on the task in front of them. He also pointed to Kyle Juszczyk as part of what keeps the offense grounded and organized in the moment.
San Franciscos defense finished the job late, with Romello Height coming through with a sack to help secure the victory. And while the record keeps growing and the attention around the 49ers will only get louder, the message from inside the locker room is that the work is still very much about the next opponent, not the next chapter. For now, the standing remains perfect, but the mindset is clearly built to keep the pressure from turning into distraction. [Read more 🡒]
Troy Aikman Just Added A Surprising Twist To The 49ers Rivalry
On ESPNs Monday Night Football pregame show before the 49ers faced the Commanders, Troy Aikman took a moment to salute San Franciscos organization and the way it has been built to win. He praised the teams consistency and professionalism, saying Kyle Shanahans current operation belongs in the same conversation as the 49ers teams of the 1980s and 1990s, which is a notable nod from someone who spent years on the other side of this rivalry.
Aikmans comments carried a little extra intrigue because his ESPN contract is set to expire after this season, leaving open the possibility that he could hit the broadcasting market. For a franchise that has long valued stability and strong coaching, hearing one of the leagues most recognizable voices frame the 49ers that way only adds to the sense that this version of San Francisco still has plenty of league-wide respect attached to it. [Read more 🡒]