SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Earlier than cornerback Deommodore Lenoir was able to signal a profitable contract extension with the San Francisco 49ers, he first needed to verify everybody else may see what he had lengthy since believed: that he was among the many greatest within the NFL at his place.
“I used to be all the time the particular person [who] could be assured after which talking aloud and saying stuff like I am the perfect,” Lenoir stated. “However I needed to show to you guys first and show to the world who I’m.”
No matter what the remainder of the soccer world thinks, the Niners despatched a convincing message that they concurred with Lenoir’s self-assessment Tuesday when the perimeters agreed to a five-year, $92 million contract extension. Lenoir formally signed the deal Wednesday morning after which spent about 10 minutes discussing his lengthy highway to the cope with Bay Space media earlier than observe.
Throughout that dialog, Lenoir recounted a humorous story about how he virtually by no means even obtained near signing a long-term extension in San Francisco. After the 49ers used a fifth-round decide within the 2021 NFL draft on him, Lenoir made a rapid first impression along with his physicality throughout the staff’s rookie minicamp.
However that impression shortly turned bitter when Lenoir posted video of some reps from the practices during which he was a bit too hands-on for an offseason observe. The video shortly went viral and resulted in a $100,000 superb for the staff and a $50,000 superb for coach Kyle Shanahan.
“He caught out our first day of rookie camps when he obtained me fined lots since you jam folks too arduous after which put it on the web,” Shanahan stated, laughing. “That was the primary time I ever obtained mad at him, however I used to be actually enthusiastic about it regardless of what it took away [from] my children’ faculty tuition. However it confirmed we had the correct kind of dude.”
After a couple of bumps in his rookie 12 months, together with a expensive mistake in a Week 3 loss to the Inexperienced Bay Packers that led to a drastic lower in taking part in time for the remainder of that season, Lenoir reemerged early within the 2022 season.
In a breakout 2023 marketing campaign, Lenoir staked his declare to not solely one of many two beginning outdoors cornerback spots but in addition being the staff’s greatest slot nook, bumping inside in nickel packages. He performed 570 snaps on the skin and 311 within the slot, posting 84 tackles and three interceptions whereas permitting a minus-4.7 EPA (anticipated factors added), 80.1 passer ranking and only one landing when focused.
Lenoir has been even higher this season, with 53 tackles, 1 compelled fumble and a pair of interceptions, whereas yielding a passer ranking of 66.5 when focused as the closest defender, in response to NFL Subsequent Gen Stats.
Lenoir’s manufacturing, mixed with a tenacious method that permits him to excel as a run defender as a lot as in protection, has endeared him to teammates comparable to finish Nick Bosa and linebacker Fred Warner. Bosa calls Lenoir “one in all my favourite teammates I’ve ever performed with” and Warner says Lenoir is having “an All-Professional-type 12 months.”
“He is precisely what you need in a Niner,” Warner stated. “He does all of it, performs nickel for us, nook, the physicality he brings to the place. Being lockdown on the skin and with the ability to get his nostril soiled on the within, it is one thing that you do not see lots within the NFL, and so he obtained paid prefer it.”
Certainly, Lenoir stated when he obtained the information that the deal was finished, he instantly burst into tears figuring out he had modified the trajectory of his household’s life for generations to come back. As an added bonus, he additionally has an opportunity to atone for the rookie mistake he made almost 4 years in the past, despite the fact that he maintains he posted the video by chance.
“Now I can lastly pay Kyle again for [his son] Carter’s tuition,” Lenoir stated.
Whereas the Niners now know they will have Lenoir round for 5 extra years, there are extra urgent worries about a few of their high gamers’ availabilities for Sunday in opposition to the Seattle Seahawks. Bosa (hip) and tight finish George Kittle (hamstring) didn’t take part in Wednesday’s observe after battling by means of their respective accidents final week in opposition to Tampa Bay.
Shanahan stated he isn’t overly anxious that Bosa and Kittle will miss this week’s recreation, noting that he expects to have Kittle again in observe on Thursday.
Bosa’s scenario seems extra tenuous. After sustaining a hip pointer in observe final week, he performed 49 snaps in opposition to the Bucs with an damage he known as “the worst factor I’ve needed to play by means of” on Wednesday.
In keeping with Bosa, relaxation is the one factor that can assist his ailing hip, which is why he is unlikely to take part in observe all week.
“It will be positively shut [to play Sunday],” Bosa stated. “I form of tried to push by means of final week in observe and that did not work, so I am simply going to relaxation this complete week and see what occurs.”
Punter Mitch Wishnowsky’s again damage can be a problem for the Niners, a lot in order that they signed punter Pat O’Donnell to the observe squad on Wednesday.
“I am a little bit extra involved with that,” Shanahan stated. “Bothered him earlier within the 12 months. … And it is flared up right here this final week and so we’ll see how this week goes, however that is why we introduced in one other man. So hopefully it’s going to take a flip for the higher right here, however proper now we’ve some concern.”
