Tag: Deommodore Lenoir

Kyle Shanahan gives 49ers injury updates, including positive news on QB Brock Purdy

Brock Purdy got through some light throwing on Monday.

The San Francisco 49ers left their 38-10 blowout loss to the Green Bay Packers with a handful of injury issues, but head coach Kyle Shanahan did have some positive news on quarterback Brock Purdy during his Monday conference call.

Shanahan told reporters Purdy got some light throwing in Monday and didn’t have the pain return to his shoulder, which is a good sign for his chances to ramp up ahead of Week 13. Purdy missed Week 12 because of a shoulder injury he sustained in Week 11 against the Seattle Seahawks. He was limited in practice throughout Week 12 and then ruled out Friday on the injury report.

This week he’ll get a rest day Tuesday with a chance to return to practice Wednesday.

With the 49ers’ postseason hopes on life support, Purdy’s health may be the biggest factor moving forward in whether they have a chance to fight back into the playoff picture. That he made positive strides Monday is a good first step toward getting him back.

The updates on defensive end Nick Bosa and Trent Williams were less optimistic. Shanahan said both are still day-to-day, though their statuses for Week 13 remain up in the air.

Shanahan also had updates on players who played in Sunday’s game.

Two offensive lineman, left guard Aaron Banks and right guard Dominick Puni were banged up during the contest. Banks is in concussion protocol. Puni has a shoulder issue and the team is awaiting an MRI.

Defensive tackle Jordan Elliott is also in concussion protocol after leaving the game early.

Cornerback Deommodore Lenoir is also dealing with a knee problem that required an MRI. The 49ers are awaiting those results. Lenoir has been their best defensive back this season, and losing him would be a significant blow to their secondary. If he can’t go, rookie Renardo Green would likely move down to the slot with Isaac Yiadom and potentially Charvarius Ward getting the starts on the outside. Ward is still working his way back after a long-term absence for a personal tragedy. However, Green is day-to-day with a neck injury per Shanahan.

Injuries were rough for San Francisco in Green Bay. It may be even worse in Week 13 when they visit the Buffalo Bills on Sunday Night Football.

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Reported numbers on Deommodore Lenoir contract are bargain for 49ers

These reported contract numbers for Deommodore Lenoir are wild. The 49ers got a steal.

Initial reports on a new contract for San Francisco 49ers cornerback Deommodore Lenoir made it clear the team got a good deal on their 25-year-old breakout star.

Additional numbers provided by Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports paint an even better picture for the 49ers in the deal.

Jones reported Lenoir’s five-year deal is worth $88.8 million. The original report said it was $92 million. That puts the average annual value at $17.76 million. Lenoir still lands as the No. 12 highest-paid CB in terms of average annual value.

The numbers that matter in NFL contracts are the guarantees, and Lenoir inked a deal for just $15.5 million guaranteed at signing according to Jones’s numbers. That’s a bargain for San Francisco. Denver Broncos Patrick Surtain II is in a tier above Lenoir, but his new deal landed him $40.7 million guaranteed at signing. Chicago Bears CB Jaylon Johnson got $43.8 million guaranteed at signing.

Jones also notes Lenoir’s contract includes $43.3 million guaranteed for injury.

Overall this deal won’t do much to impact the 49ers’ ability to fit a top-of-market contract for quarterback Brock Purdy in the offseason when he becomes eligible for an extension. It also helps San Francisco shore up its secondary with an ascending star at an extremely affordable price. If these are the final numbers, the 49ers got a steal.

Update

A further breakdown of the contract was published by Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio.

According to Florio, “only 17 percent of Lenoir’s deal is fully guaranteed at signing; that’s the smallest full-guaranteed portion for any cornerback making more than $2 million per year.”

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Deommodore Lenoir contract may signal philosophy shift for 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers are building their defense a little differently than they have in the past.

The San Francisco 49ers may be changing the way they build their roster on the defensive side of the football.

They agreed to a five-year, $92 million contract extension with cornerback Deommodore Lenoir which was first reported Tuesday afternoon. It looked going into the season like the team’s various financial commitments may force them to let Lenoir walk in free agency. Veteran Charvarius Ward is playing the best football of his career and is also due to hit the free agent market following the 2024 campaign.

It wouldn’t have been a surprise had the 49ers opted to let Lenoir go. They’ve not prioritized the secondary during the John Lynch-Kyle Shanahan era, preferring instead to focus their resources on building out a strong pass rush.

Their defensive fronts have been disappointing the last couple of years, and in 2023 they were forced to make two mid-season trades to find pass rush help. Instead, their secondary shined during their run to the Super Bowl where they met a Kansas City Chiefs defense that was loaded with high-quality defensive backs.

It may be that the 49ers are undergoing a philosophical change on defense where they’re investing more in the secondary and perhaps trying to build out a deeper defensive front that has effective players alongside superstar defensive end Nick Bosa.

Replacing players like Dee Ford, DeForest Buckner and Arik Armstead hasn’t been easy, and finding players of that caliber like they did in 2019 may not be something they’re capable of doing given their financial commitments and lack of high draft picks.

The Lenoir contract isn’t the only signal of a potential shift. The team also spent a second-round pick on Florida State CB Renardo Green in this year’s draft. It’s the earliest they’ve ever drafted a cornerback in the Lynch-Shanahan era, and Green has been terrific stepping into the nickel CB role as a rookie. While the 49ers added Leonard Floyd, Yetur Gross-Matos and Jordan Elliott in free agency, none of those players broke the bank. Even Maliek Collins was acquired with a seventh-round pick. The team prioritized depth on the defensive front while investing significant resources in the secondary in this year’s draft with Green and fourth-round pick Malik Mustapha. They also traded up for safety Ji’Ayir Brown in the third round of the 2023 draft where they didn’t pick until Round 3.

Perhaps this is just a function of the available talent and the 49ers will go back to their defensive line-first philosophy down the road, but for now the front-to-back defense we’ve come to know in San Francisco may become a back-to-front defense where the secondary is the star.

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49ers breakout star DB gets big-time contract extension

Deommodore Lenoir is locked into a new contract with the 49ers.

The San Francisco 49ers are locking up one of their top young defenders on a long-term contract.

According to Fox Sports’s Jordan Schultz, the 49ers and cornerback Deommodore Lenoir have agreed to a five-year deal worth up to $92 million. There are no details on the deal yet. The $18.4 million average annual value is the 12th-highest in the NFL among cornerbacks.

Lenoir, 25, has been one of the breakout stars of this season for San Francisco. He was due to hit free agency in the offseason, but instead he signed a deal mid-season to give himself some long-term security.

The 49ers selected Lenoir in the fifth-round of the 2021 draft. He got off to a rocky start in his first couple of seasons, but broke out in the 2022 playoffs where he snagged a pair of interceptions and didn’t allow a touchdown.

Last season was his best as a pro while bouncing between the slot and playing outside. In 2024 he’s backed up his strong 2023 campaign by being perhaps San Francisco’s best defensive back. He has two interceptions, six pass breakups, one forced fumble and a paltry 65.0 passer rating allowed when targeted according to Pro Football Focus. Lenoir has yet to allow a touchdown this season. He’s also been one of the 49ers’ best, most consistent run defenders.

It looked like the 49ers’ salary cap situation may force them to let Lenoir walk after the final year of his rookie contract was up, but now they’ve ensured he’ll be with them for at least the next few seasons.

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Did Kyle Shanahan hint that 49ers plan to keep pending free agent CB?

Deommodore Lenoir has been awesome this season.

There aren’t many players on the San Francisco 49ers playing better than cornerback Deommodore Lenoir through the first eight weeks.

Lenoir, a fifth-round pick in the 2021 draft, is entering the final year of his contract and appears to be on track for a sizable payday in the offseason. The 49ers have some financial constraints ahead considering the lucrative contract extension quarterback Brock Purdy figures to fetch this offseason, but Lenoir may be another player they prioritize.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan on Monday was asked about Lenoir’s terrific start to the 2024 campaign. In his answer he made an interesting comment about Lenoir’s playing style that may signal the team’s intent to pay him in free agency.

“Yeah, DMo’s been a stud,” Shanahan said. “He is exactly what you want a 49er to play like. He came in his first rookie camp and stood out, got me fined for illegally jamming people too hard and putting on the internet. So, I always mess with him for that. But he started out real well, made a couple mistakes early on as a rookie and lost his confidence just a little bit I thought his rookie year. Then that second season, the way he came back in the offseason, kind of just possessed to get that job back and he’s kind of owned it ever since. He’s been a stud for a while to me and he gets better each year. He’s having a hell of a year.”

It’s not a slam dunk that the 49ers will keep a player just because the head coach said “he is exactly what you want a 49er to play like,” but it’s an indication of how highly regarded Lenoir is in the team’s building.

He has the versatility to play in the slot or outside, and he’s steadily improved over his four years to become the most reliable member of a very good secondary.

Lenoir figures to get a big-time contract in free agency, and his market may dictate that he’s owed more than the 49ers can or will spend at corner.

However, his importance to their team is growing and Shanahan’s quote on him is indicative of that.

If the 49ers’ pass rush continues to struggle and their secondary continues playing well, we may see a shift in philosophy where the 49ers prioritize a very good coverage corner like Lenoir, then see if they can go bargain hunting to fill in their pass rush instead of the other way around.

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49ers injury news: George Kittle, Deebo Samuel active vs. Cowboys

49ers inactives do NOT include George Kittle and Deebo Samuel.

The San Francisco 49ers got good news on the injury front just before their game against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night.

Neither tight end George Kittle nor Deebo Samuel were listed among the team’s inactives, meaning both are officially playing in a massive game for the 49ers.

Kittle was questionable because of a foot injury. Samuel was questionable after a bout with pneumonia. Both players missed Wednesday’s practice and were limited Thursday and Friday.

After going through pregame workouts, both players were good to go in the game.

Here’s who won’t be active for the 49ers:

QB Joshua Dobbs (QB3)
WR Jauan Jennings (hip)
DL Kevin Givens (groin)
K Jake Moody
LB Jalen Graham
CB Rock Ya-Sin
OL Ben Bartch

Cornerback Deommodore Lenoir was also questionable with an illness, but he’s good to go as well.

An interesting twist is that second-year TE Brayden Willis is active for only the second time this season. That may be because the team has questions about whether Kittle will be able to play a full complement of snaps. They may also be aiming to run more multiple TE sets against a Dallas defense that hasn’t been particularly effective at stopping the run.

Kickoff at Levi’s Stadium is set for 5:20pm Pacific Time.

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49ers special teams comes up with miracle TD vs. Cardinals

The 49ers special teams unit delivered on Sunday against the Cardinals.

For the first month of the season, the San Franciso 49ers’ special teams unit has struggled. Whether it’s a blocked punt, a successful fake punt from the opponent or soft coverage on returns, special teams have hurt the 49ers at times to start the 2024 campaign.

However, Sunday in Santa Clara against the Arizona Cardinals was a different story. With the Cardinals driving to set up a field goal attempt in the second quarter of Week 5, the special teams unit delivered.

Defensive tackle Jordan Elliott got up in the air to block a 44-yard field goal. Once Elliott got a hand on the ball, Deommodore Lenior did the rest, scooping the ball up for a long touchdown return.

Via @NFL on Twitter:

This post originally appeared on Niners Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

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49ers rising star CB talks trash to Vikings QB Sam Darnold

Whewwww spicy.

The Minnesota Vikings got the better of their matchup against the San Francisco 49ers in 2023.

That didn’t stop 49ers cornerback Deommodore Lenoir from talking a little smack to his former teammate and Vikings starting quarterback Sam Darnold.

Lenoir after Thursday’s practice had some fun with the 49ers’ former backup quarterback during an interview in the locker room.

“Me and Sam, we had this connection,” Lenoir told reporters as he raised his hands to mimic catching a football. “He liked to throw the ball to me. So, this week we’re coming. He knows it.”

Lenoir continued with praise of his former teammate.

“I know he’s a talented player,” Lenoir said. “He’s gonna come ready to work. I know how he prepares. He gave us great looks when he played here with us. Just taking over the scout team, he was throwing dimes, so I know it’s gonna have to be tight, sticky coverage.”

Darnold didn’t get to see the field much for the 49ers in 2023, but he started his 2024 in Minnesota with a bang. He earned their starting job out of training camp and completed 19-of-24 throws for 208 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in a 28-6 Vikings win over the Giants.

Minnesota is a tough matchup for San Francisco, and a turnover may swing the game. Even if Darnold is good, the 49ers would love to see Lenoir rekindle that connection with the former 49ers QB to come up with a takeaway.

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49ers depth chart: DC reveals who 3rd starting cornerback will be

We know now who the 49ers’ 3 starting CBs will be.

The nickel cornerback spot was one of the few starting lineup questions for the San Francisco 49ers heading into training camp.

Charvarius Ward and Deommodore Lenoir were both locked in as starters, but the nickel CB job was up for grabs with a handful of contenders. As camp and the preseason churned on, veteran Isaac Yiadom and rookie second-round pick Renardo Green emerged as the top options to earn starting jobs.

Defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen told reporters after Friday’s practice the club has an answer at that spot. Rather than playing coy, Sorensen divulged the 49ers would lean toward the veteran as the third CB.

“Well how we’ve been going has been how it started out, with Ike (Yiadom) and DMo (Lenoir) and Mooney (Ward),” Sorensen said. “And then we’ve been rotating guys through and getting a lot of reps with them as well. But that’s how it’s going right now. And Renardo (Green) rotating in.”

Lenoir and Ward figure to be the two outside corners in the 49ers’ base defense. In the more commonly-used nickel packages, Yiadom will take over an outside spot while Lenoir kicks inside to the slot.

Green worked primarily in the slot during his first training camp. If he rotates in it would likely be in the slot with Lenoir staying outside.

This is in line with how the 49ers approached the third CB job last year. They didn’t have a rookie, but they had veterans Ambry Thomas and Isaiah Oliver.

Thomas would play outside in nickel with Lenoir in the slot. If Oliver was in, he’d play in the slot with Lenoir outside.

Nickel CB was a pretty significant problem for the 49ers last season. Ward and Lenoir were both very good, but their third CB spot was up-and-down all year.

This season they have some options again, but they’ll lean on Yiadom who is coming off his best season as a pro. If he picks up where he left off with the Saints last season and Lenoir continues his ascension toward being a Pro Bowl caliber slot CB, the 49ers will have solved a significant issue in their secondary.

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49ers’ looming problem at cornerback

Much of the offseason focus has been on the future of the 49ers’ WR room, but they might have a bigger problem at CB.

We’ve spent a ton of time this offseason looking at the future of the 49ers’ receiving corps. Whether it’s Deebo Samuel or Brandon Aiyuk it sounds like there’s going to be some significant changes in that group next year. On the other side of the ball there’s perhaps an even bigger problem brewing. Neither of the 49ers’ top two CBs are under contract after the 2024 season and both are likely to get paid handsomely in free agency.

Both Charvarius Ward and Deommodore Lenoir are set to hit unrestricted free agency next offseason and San Francisco may not be able to pay both to stay.

According to Over the Cap the 49ers are over next year’s projected cap by $38 million. There are ways that they can and will create space, but with Brock Purdy’s extension likely coming next year San Francisco’s cap management will change dramatically. Keeping both of their top CBs might be impossible.

Ward told Kay Adams, host of ‘Up and Adams,’ that he’s “just trying to get the bag” next offseason, which makes sense given how well he played in 2023. If he backs that up with another All-Pro campaign he’ll be in for a sizable free agent deal that pushes north of the contract he signed with the 49ers in 2022 that had a $13.5 million average annual value with $18 million guaranteed.

Then there’s Lenoir who broke out with a career-year in 2023 that flashed his versatility as an inside/outside CB. Ideally the 49ers would do a Dre Greenlaw type of deal with him where they try and trade a longer-term commitment for a cheaper contract. The problem is Greenlaw agreed to his two-year, $16.4 million deal after he’d dealt with a slew of injury problems that had his long-term earning potential in flux.

Lenoir is not in the same boat. He’s purely an ascending player who could conceivably want to sign a deal now, but anything he’d be agreeing to ahead of the 2024 season would pale in comparison to the type of contract he’d get on the open market after another strong year this year.

There’s a chance the 49ers can do the cap gymnastics to keep one of the two, especially if one of them slips up a bit this season.

However, the looming free agency of both underscores how bare the cupboard might be for the 49ers at CB. San Francisco doesn’t even have a surefire third starting CB for this season, much less someone they’re comfortable penciling in as a long-term starter to replace one of Ward or Lenoir.

Ideally a couple players would step up this season to take the third and fourth CB spots and give the 49ers some hope of having multiple options to replace at least one of their starters should they exit next offseason. They drafted Renardo Green in the second round in hopes that he could become that player. Samuel Womack has started games for San Francisco over his three seasons, and second-year CB Darrell Luter Jr. is an interesting option as well. A handful of veterans will also be in the mix although Isaac Yiadom and Rock Ya-Sin are both on one-year contracts.

This will be a situation worth monitoring all year. San Francisco would love to see another great year from both Ward and Lenoir, but the better they are the more likely we are to see them leave for huge contracts next March.

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