The San Francisco 49ers’ defense entered Sunday’s matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers already battered by injuries, and by the end of the day, things only got worse. Fred Warner, the heartbeat of this defense, exited the game early with what appeared to be a serious injury, and while the 49ers fought to hold the line, the absence of their leader was glaring as the Buccaneers handed them their second loss of the season.

Before leaving the field, Warner was putting together what looked like a career-caliber performance, earning a PFF grade of 84.7 in just eight snaps. Even in limited action, his presence was felt. He was reading plays instantly, making quick open-field tackles, and setting the tone for a defense already stretched to its limits. His early exit, though, left a massive leadership and playmaking void that San Francisco simply couldn’t fill for the remainder of the game.

Behind him, Kalia Davis (69.9) and Jordan Elliott (69.0) were the bright spots in the trenches. Both defensive tackles held their own against a strong Buccaneers interior line, combining for multiple run stops and providing much needed resistance in the middle. Ji’Ayir Brown (68.6) continued to emerge as a reliable option in the secondary, while Bryce Huff (64.7) made a few flashes off the edge despite limited snaps.

However, the rest of the defense struggled to keep pace. Luke Gifford (32.1) and Dee Winters (38.9) both had rough outings in coverage and run defense, while the secondary tandem of Renardo Green (51.6) and Deommodore Lenoir (51.7) gave up chunk plays to Baker Mayfield and rookie wideout Emeka Egbuka, who also left with a hamstring injury midway through the game, and then was replaced by Sterling Shepard and Tez Johnson. Malik Mustapha (43.1) also had difficulty in open field tackling, a recurring issue in recent weeks.

One bright note amid the chaos: linebacker Tatum Bethune, stepping in for the injured Warner, quietly earned the Niners’ best pass-rush grade (70.3). Despite only rushing the passer twice, he was efficient in limiting opportunities and offered a glimpse of potential depth value moving forward.

Still, the defensive issues remain because of injury. Depth, communication, and consistency will be key moving forward for a defense that is now without both Nick Bosa and Fred Warner. With Warner sidelined and the defensive line rotation shrinking, San Francisco faces a daunting stretch ahead where they’ll need every backup to play like a starter if they hope to stay atop the NFC West.