San Francisco 49ers cornerback Deommodore Lenoir recently posted, then quickly deleted, a message on Instagram that grabbed attention, appearing to reference head coach Kyle Shanahan. This came after a tough 24-23 loss to the Arizona Cardinals, dropping the 49ers to 2-3. Lenoir, who made a key play with a special teams touchdown, seemed pleased with his role.
Although the message was somewhat unclear, it seemed Lenoir was expressing appreciation for Shanahan allowing him to play his game. Lenoir has had a solid start defensively this season and added a major highlight by scoring off a blocked punt by defensive tackle Jordan Elliott in the game against the Cardinals.
Lenoir’s touchdown extended the 49ers’ lead to 20-10 with five minutes left in the second quarter. You can watch the highlight here.
However, despite Lenoir’s big moment, the 49ers’ offense faltered in the second half, committing three turnovers. While the San Francisco defense, led by Lenoir, limited the Cardinals to 14 points and held them back despite multiple opportunities, the team couldn’t stop Arizona’s comeback.
Lenoir’s Breakout Performances
Lenoir, who emerged during the 2022 season, has started 40 consecutive games for the 49ers. Over that stretch, his performance has improved, recording 3 interceptions and 10 pass deflections in 2023.
In the first five games of 2023, Lenoir has kept up his strong play, recording three deflected passes, including one against the Cardinals. His defensive stats are trending in the right direction, as he has reduced the completion rate allowed from 63.2% in 2023 to 55% this year. The only downside is that he has missed two tackles in the first five games.
Overall, it has been a promising start to the season for the young cornerback. To top it off, his special teams touchdown marked the first of his NFL career and came on his 25th birthday.
Nick Bosa Urges 49ers to Find Solutions
With the 49ers sitting at 2-3 just months after a Super Bowl appearance, defensive end Nick Bosa believes the team is falling short of expectations. Despite their talent, Bosa says the team is not performing as it should.
“I think as a whole, as a team, we’ve always been an organization and a team that finds ways to win, and we are kind of doing the opposite so far,” Bosa told NBC Sports Bay Area. “We are finding ways to lose… It doesn’t matter how good the players are, it doesn’t matter how explosive the offense is — if you let teams hang around and not play your best ball later in the game, then you’re going to find yourself in these situations.”
The road ahead won’t be easy for the 49ers, as they prepare for a Thursday night matchup against the Seattle Seahawks.
