The San Francisco 49ers for the first time this season have the NFC Defensive Player of the Week, and it came via an unlikely source.
On a defense littered with stars like Nick Bosa, Fred Warner, Javon Hargrave, Deommodore Lenoir, Charvarius Ward and Talanoa Hufanga, it was offseason addition Yetur Gross-Matos who earned the defense’s first NFC Defensive Player of the Week award of the 2024 campaign.
Gross-Matos earned the nod after notching three sacks in San Francisco’s 38-13 blowout win over the Chicago Bears.
It was a glimpse into what the 49ers were hoping to get when they signed Gross-Matos to a two-year, $18 million contract in the offseason. A knee injury in the preseason derailed the first part of his year as he tried to play through the ailment before eventually landing on IR.
Prior to his IR stint, Gross-Matos had one tackle and one quarterback hit through three games. Since returning, he has 4.0 sacks and 14 tackles, five tackles for loss and five quarterback hits in four games.
The 49ers pass rush has really struggled this season, particularly with DE Nick Bosa absent because of hip and oblique injuries. If Gross-Matos continues ascending the way he has over the last four games he could become an important player for the 49ers beyond the 2024 campaign.
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