Dre Greenlaw and Fred Warner delivered elite performances to mask a depleted front four, securing a gritty divisional win despite mounting injuries across the San Francisco secondary.
Despite entering Sunday’s 36-30 victory over the Arizona Cardinals with just three healthy defensive linemen from the initial 53-man roster, the San Francisco 49ers' defense did just enough to secure the win. Pro Football Focus (PFF) grades highlight a heroic performance from the linebacker corps, which offset a heavily strained secondary and defensive front.
Here is the analytical breakdown of the 49ers' defensive performance from Week 3.
Top 5 Defensive Performers
| Player | Position | PFF Grade | Snaps |
| Dre Greenlaw | LB | 85.9 | 61 |
| Fred Warner | LB | 76.0 | 86 |
| Sebastian Valdez | DT | 75.0 | 31 |
| Deommodore Lenoir | CB | 74.0 | 71 |
| Kevin Givens | DT | 70.7 | 21 |
Bottom 5 Defensive Performers
| Player | Position | PFF Grade | Snaps |
| Jaden Dugger | LB | 36.6 | 33 |
| Osa Odighizuwa | DT | 43.4 | 71 |
| Naquan Jones | DT | 44.9 | 17 |
| Jack Jones | CB | 47.5 | 28 |
| Malik Mustapha | FS | 52.1 | 18 |
Linebackers: Dre Greenlaw and Fred Warner Set the Standard
Linebacker Dre Greenlaw was the single highest-graded defensive player in the entire game, earning a phenomenal 85.9 overall defensive grade before exiting in the fourth quarter with an injury. Greenlaw was elite in coverage, posting a game-high 88.1 coverage grade while allowing just 7 yards on 4 receptions (5 targets) to go along with 8 total tackles.
Alongside him, Fred Warner logged a staggering 86 snaps and led the team in run defense with a game-high 83.5 run-defense grade. Warner amassed a career-high 17 tackles and a game-high 7 defensive stops (no other player in the game had more than 3).
However, backup linebacker Jaden Dugger struggled severely in relief, recording a team-low 36.6 overall grade and a 32.8 coverage grade after allowing 3 catches on 3 targets.
Pass Rush: Kevin Givens Steps Up; Keion White and Ogbo Okoronkwo Seal Sacks
With Nick Bosa sidelined, San Francisco generated 11 total pressures as a team. Defensive tackle Kevin Givens was the standout pass rusher, leading all players with an 84.0 pass-rush grade and 2 pressures (including a hit and a hurry) on just 21 snaps.
- Sacks: DE Keion White (57.3 pass-rush grade) and DE Ogbo Okoronkwo (58.7 pass-rush grade) recorded the 49ers' only two sacks of the afternoon.
- Pressure Leader: Keion White led the defense with 3 total pressures.
- Pressures Breakdown: White (3), Givens (2), Khalid Kareem (2), Greenlaw (1), Viliami Fehoko Jr. (1), Osa Odighizuwa (1), Okoronkwo (1), Warner (1).
- Low Mark: Khalid Kareem struggled to finish plays, posting a team-low 50.7 pass-rush grade.
Secondary & Coverage: Lenoir Holds Strong Before Injury Shuffle
San Francisco’s secondary was forced into constant rotation following injuries to Deommodore Lenoir and Renardo Green:
- Deommodore Lenoir was the highest-graded defensive back on the team (74.0 overall, 71.1 coverage), allowing 26 yards on 5 catches (7 targets) before undergoing a concussion evaluation.
- Renardo Green posted a team-high 84.5 tackle grade, racking up 13 tackles (second only to Warner's 17).
- Jack Jones struggled after stepping in for Lenoir and Green, earning a 47.5 overall grade on 28 snaps.
- Malik Mustapha logged a 52.1 grade over 18 snaps at free safety.
Interior Run Defense Struggles
Without depth on the interior, starter Osa Odighizuwa played 71 snaps but struggled against Arizona's heavy front, posting a team-low 45.4 run-defense grade and a 43.4 overall grade. Newly signed nose tackle Naquan Jones earned a 44.9 grade across 17 snaps in his 49ers debut.
Practice squad elevation Sebastian Valdez provided a rare bright spot inside, earning a 75.0 overall grade over 31 snaps.
