Malik Mustapha spent much of Monday night in the middle of the action, but his biggest moment came when the 49ers needed it most.
The San Francisco defensive back, who earlier drew attention for a controversial hit on Stefon Diggs that could have been flagged as an illegal shot to the head and neck, delivered the play that kept Washington out of the end zone late in the fourth quarter. With the Commanders driving and trailing 23-17, Jayden Daniels lofted a pass to Treylon Burks from near the red zone. Burks was just inches from scoring, but Mustapha got there in time to stop the ball from crossing the goal line.
Washington had already stared into a deep hole after falling behind by 17 points at halftime, and the loss of Terry McLaurin only made the climb steeper. McLaurin was carted off with a knee injury, leaving the Commanders to push on without their top receiver. Still, they battled all the way back and nearly forced overtime.
In McLaurin’s absence, Chig Okonkwo and Burks carried the load in the passing game, combining for 11 catches and 135 yards. Whether McLaurin is sidelined for a while is still unclear, and if he is, Jayden Daniels is going to need every bit of help he can get through the air.
San Francisco, meanwhile, escaped the scare and moved to 6-0. The 49ers also came away with a fresh injury worry of their own after Mike Evans suffered an apparent Achilles injury.
In Other News...
Kyle Juszczyk Just Reignited A Ugly 49ers Controversy
A fresh layer was added to an old 49ers grievance after Bills safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson got tossed in Week 6 for spitting on Raiders tight end Brock Bowers. The incident immediately brought back memories in San Francisco, where Kyle Juszczyk said Gardner-Johnson had done the same to him in a game last season, a claim that had already helped fuel some hard feelings around the league.
Gardner-Johnson pushed back on the accusation, but the latest ejection only gave the story new life for 49ers fans who remember how it played out the first time. With one ugly moment already on the record, the lingering question is less about the punishment Gardner-Johnson just received and more about what comes next for a controversy that clearly was never fully put to rest. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Face A Costly Linebacker Test At The Worst Time
A linebacker room already under pressure now has one more wrinkle to sort out, and it comes at a bad time for San Francisco. Dre Greenlaw will miss the next game after his Week 5 ejection for headbutting an opponent, leaving the 49ers to adjust defensively as they prepare for Washington.
The immediate answer appears to be rookie Jaden Dugger, who is expected to step into Greenlaws role for the matchup with the Commanders. For a defense that leans on Greenlaws presence and experience, the timing makes this more than a simple depth-chart shuffle, especially with the appeal process having already run its course. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Could Face One Sneaky Problem On Monday Night
The 49ers are set to host the Washington Commanders on Monday night at Levis Stadium, and the setup looks more like a late-fall Bay Area evening than a weather worry. Temperatures are expected to dip into the upper 50s by kickoff, with stadium gates opening in the afternoon for fans making their way in for prime-time football.
Still, there is one small element that could matter once the game gets going. The forecast calls for minimal rain, but the wind could become the more noticeable factor as the night wears on, and that can have an impact on both the passing game and any decisions that reach into field-goal range. [Read more 🡒]