The San Francisco 49ers are staring at a cornerback situation that looks a lot shakier now than it did when they made their preseason cuts.
Wide receiver and the defensive line were the obvious spots San Francisco needed to address before the trade deadline, but cornerback has quietly become a real issue because of injuries to Deommodore Lenoir, Renardo Green, and Upton Stout.
Lenoir exited last week’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders with a foot injury, while Green left with a back injury. Stout has been able to stay on the field, but he has been dealing with a nagging shoulder issue.
That injury cluster is what makes the decision to waive Darrell Luter Jr. back in the preseason look a little more questionable now.
There was at least some expectation that the cornerback injuries might push the 49ers toward a trade, but they passed on that route. Instead, they brought back Jack Jones on the practice squad after he struggled badly against the Atlanta Falcons and was later cut to make room for defensive tackle DeForest Buckner.
The injuries aren’t season-ending, which may explain why San Francisco never felt compelled to make a move. Lenoir and Green were not involved in Thursday’s practice beyond a walkthrough, and Stout was limited.
If Lenoir and Green can’t play, the ripple effect could be significant. Rookie Ephesians Prysock would likely be asked to take on a much larger role, and Siran Neal, who is more of a safety and special teams player, could also be pushed into the mix. That would be a risky setup with the Dallas Cowboys coming next, especially with receivers like CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens on the other side.
That’s why Luter’s name keeps coming back into the conversation.
San Francisco drafted Luter in the fifth round in 2023, and while he was never a major piece of the defense, there was reportedly enough interest in him after he was waived to make you wonder whether the 49ers let a useful depth option slip away.
Luter has not turned into a difference-maker since the Las Vegas Raiders claimed him. His NFL resume is modest: 41 combined tackles, one pass deflection, and one forced fumble.
Still, he was a workable depth corner for the 49ers, and that kind of player suddenly feels a lot more valuable with the current injury picture.
Maybe the starters are ready and the concern fades quickly. If not, San Francisco could be looking at a secondary that is far too thin for comfort.
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The bigger concern, though, is on the other side of the ball, where the secondary is suddenly dealing with a crowded injury report. Deommodore Lenoir and Renardo Green both missed practice, several other defensive backs were limited, and even a few key veterans on offense and defense, including Trent Williams and Dre Greenlaw, were working through new issues of their own. For a team that has leaned on depth and versatility all season, the timing of those absences is less than ideal. [Read more 🡒]
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Porter also pushed back on the contract chatter around his absence, saying the injury is the only reason he is out. From the 49ers perspective, the bigger picture is simple: Purdy is expected to play, and Dallas has shown defensive vulnerability against the run, which could force the Cowboys to pick their poison if their top corner cannot go. [Read more 🡒]
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Purdy also added a little extra edge to the afternoon with a thumbs-down gesture he later framed as playful rivalry banter, the kind of small flash that can turn a comfortable win into a talking point. For San Francisco, the bigger picture is even more important now, with Dallas up next and the 49ers carrying both momentum and a defense that has been holding opponents in check while the schedule gets tougher. [Read more 🡒]