Can the 49ers' CB1 step up against the Carolina Panthers on Monday Night?
When the San Francisco 49ers take the field against the Carolina Panthers on Monday night, much of the spotlight will be fixed on one matchup: Tetairoa McMillan versus the 49ers’ secondary.
Carolina selected McMillan with the No. 8 overall pick, and he has wasted no time proving why.
His chemistry with Bryce Young, the 2023 No. 1 overall pick, has quickly become the backbone of the Panthers’ passing attack. With 54 receptions, 748 yards, and four touchdowns already on the season, the rookie wideout is set to be one of the stars of the game.
But for San Francisco, this game represents a chance for Deommodore Lenoir to remind the league exactly who he is and why he was worth his contract extension.
Lenoir enters the matchup with two interceptions and a reputation that has grown steadily each season.
In fact, for much of the year’s first half, he was widely viewed as the 49ers’ top cornerback. Opposing quarterbacks have avoided him often enough that his opportunities have been limited, but Lenoir embraces what comes next. “I’m always up for the challenge,” he told NBC Sports Bay Area. “Every time I get my hopes up, game day shows and it’s a totally different game plan for that team.”
That mindset will be critical against a receiver as dynamic as McMillan.
Still, the landscape in the 49ers’ secondary has shifted. Since Week 8, Renardo Green has surged, allowing only 91 yards in coverage compared to Lenoir’s 154.
That improvement has transformed the once-clear hierarchy into a more two-headed effort, but both corners are expected to receive heavy doses of McMillan. And that’s precisely why Lenoir’s performance is so important.
The Panthers’ passing offense runs through McMillan. When Bryce Young needs a spark, a bailout, or a momentum-swinging play, he looks to the rookie.
Taking that outlet away has been the key for every team that has managed to slow Carolina down.
If the 49ers want to dictate this game rather than react to it, they must neutralize McMillan early, and Lenoir is the player with the skill set and the swagger to do exactly that.
Monday night gives Lenoir a national stage and a premier challenge. If he rises to it, San Francisco won’t just limit Carolina’s offense; they’ll set the tone for the rest of their season.
This will be crucial for the 49ers as they find themselves in a red-hot race for a Wild Card spot in the NFL playoffs.