Malik Mustapha’s season didn’t begin the way he wanted. After a hamstring strain wiped out most of training camp, he spent the first four weeks of the year mostly on the sideline, watching Ji’Ayir Brown and Marques Sigle sit ahead of him at safety while his snaps came in fits and starts.
That waiting period is over, and Mustapha has turned his opening frustration into impact plays that have helped push the 49ers to 6-0. The 2024 fourth-round pick has looked like the kind of defensive cornerstone people envisioned after his rookie season, and his latest reminder came in San Francisco’s tense primetime win over the Washington Commanders.
With the Commanders driving at the 49ers’ 17-yard line and 2:19 left, trying to finish off an unlikely comeback from 23-3 down, Mustapha made back-to-back plays that swung the game back to San Francisco. First, he shot into the backfield to stop Jeremy McNichols for no gain on third-and-3. Then he stayed locked in on the ball and broke up Treylon Burks’ fourth-down target at the goal line, denying a touchdown that would have forced the Commanders into an extra point for the lead.
Washington got one last crack, but never came close to the end zone on the final possession, leaving Mustapha to collect the praise for another game-saving sequence.
Tight end George Kittle said:
“I know that Malik was like gnawing on a bone like a rabid dog when he wasn’t playing and so the fact that he’s getting in there and now he’s just taking advantage of that opportunity, I think I’ve said that 100,000 times up on this podium, talking about guys taking advantage of their opportunity. And that juice that he brings, I know that that helps Fred [Warner], that helps the defense, keeps his guys alive. And that play in the fourth quarter where he just came down and stuffed the running back, that was fantastic.”
For Mustapha, the early-season stretch on the sideline became something more useful than just a detour. He treated it as a chance to study, reset, and sharpen his game while he waited for his opportunity.
“I didn’t have the start that I wanted this year, but it gave me a chance to really scale back, take a step back, observe, and see what ways I can improve my game, even if I’m not getting the physical reps, and then just being ready for my moment,” Mustapha said.
“Everyone has a role on this team, and you never want to be too high or too low on yourself. You’re just trying to find ways to improve day in and day out.
“Once my number is called, being in the best shape or best mindset to help my team win is key for us because they depend on me as I depend on them. I just thank God I was able to go out there these past couple of weeks and just put it out on full display.”
His play against Seattle in Week 5 already hinted at what was coming. In that win, Mustapha was around the ball constantly, made a spectacular pass breakup, and then delivered the hit on Cooper Kupp on the decisive fourth down that sealed the victory.
That kind of work has earned him the “missile” label around the 49ers defense, but Trent Williams said that shorthand doesn’t tell the full story.
“He’s an enforcer. We need guys like that,” Williams explained.
“Not only that, I mean, you see what he does for us in the pass game. I mean, literally won the game for us in the corner.
I mean, at the pylon, breaking up that pass. He had a major breakup last game, he got him [Kupp] out of bounds.
He’s doing it all.
“I think the missile really describes him well, but it doesn’t really encapsulate everything he does for this team.”
After the slow start, Mustapha has taken hold of his chance, and it’s hard to imagine him giving that starting job back anytime soon. The 49ers’ defense has found another force in the middle of it, and he’s already shown he can do more than just hit hard.
In Other News...
49ers Survived A Scare Thanks To One Late Defensive Stand
A tense Monday night in Washington nearly turned into a costly slip for the 49ers, who had to sweat through a second-half surge before escaping with their unbeaten record intact. Malik Mustapha came up with the kind of defensive play that can define a close game, helping San Francisco fend off a Commanders comeback after Washington had already lost top receiver Terry McLaurin to a knee injury.
The 49ers still left the field with a 6-0 start, but the night was not clean. An apparent Achilles injury to wide receiver Mike Evans added another layer of concern to a win that required late-game poise and a key stop when Washington seemed to be closing in on the end zone. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Just Sent An Encouraging Signal On Mike Evans
The 49ers Week 6 roster moves offered a small but notable glimpse into how theyre managing the wide receiver picture, with Christian Kirk staying on injured reserve and Mike Evans still listed as questionable. San Francisco also added some immediate depth by elevating wideout Malik Turner and linebacker Jalen Graham from the practice squad, a move that gives the offense a little more insurance while the injury situation sorts itself out.
For now, the receiver room is built around Evans, Brandin Cooks, Jacob Cowing and Jordan Watkins, with Kirk still waiting for a chance to return under his designation. The combination of the inactive status on one receiver and the extra depth additions suggests the 49ers are preparing for multiple contingencies, and Evans availability remains the headline the team is still trying to settle before game day. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Primetime Scare Put Focus On Two Receivers For Very Different Reasons
Monday night put two receivers in the spotlight for very different reasons, and neither moment had much to do with the stat sheet. Terry McLaurin was being covered one-on-one by 49ers cornerback Deommodore Lenoir when a knee injury stopped him in his tracks, turning a routine play into a grim scene that required a medical cart and an air cast.
On the other sideline, Mike Evans was still working through his own issues while catching passes from Brock Purdy, and he also showed a little class in the aftermath by shaking hands with McLaurin. Evans later exited briefly with an Achilles issue before making it back to the locker room under his own power, a reminder that even in a primetime game, health concerns can linger long after the next snap. [Read more 🡒]