Dominick Puni just endured his worst career game as a pro vs. Packers

Usually impressive, Dominick Puni didn't exactly put together a solid performance in the 49ers' debacle of a loss to the Packers in Week 12.

Nearly every week, and regardless of whatever the San Francisco 49ers do on game day, it's easy to point out just how well rookie right guard Dominick Puni is playing.

This was not the case in Week 12 against the Green Bay Packers.

True, the 38-10 Niners defeat highlights plenty of issues for head coach Kyle Shanahan's squad. Injuries were and are a problem, turning the ball over is devastating, and committing a flurry of penalties throughout the course of all four quarters ensured San Francisco would fall to 5-6 on the season.

But Puni played a significant role in the loss, committing three of the nine penalties the 49ers suffered at Lambeau Field.

"I've got to be better," Puni told KNBR 680 after the game. "I can't have three penalties in one half... It's hard to win a football game when one guy has three penalties."

It'd be one thing if Puni was just responsible for three flags.

But his performance at Green Bay extended far beyond the infractions.

Week 12 was easily Dominick Puni's worst game as a pro

The third-round NFL Draft pick out of Kansas wasn't just responsible for backing the Niners offense up via penalties.

He also had an uncharacteristically bad outing in pass protection, too.

According to Pro Football Focus, Puni not only surrendered a team-high four quarterback pressures and three hurries, but he was also credited for allowing one of the two sacks on backup signal-caller Brandon Allen.

That sack allowed is the first of Puni's young career.

Related story: These 4 players absolutely flopped in 49ers' Week 12 loss to Packers

Again, the entire body of work Puni has put together over the course of his first year as a pro remains exemplary, and there's no need to panic about his long-term impact.

However, it's still fair to highlight Puni's efforts in Week 12 and point out how they were pretty awful, mandating the need for improvement heading into the season's final stretch.

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