The San Francisco 49ers move into Week 6 to take on the Washington Commanders, and they must do so without Dre Greenlaw. The 29-year-old linebacker will serve a one-game suspension following his ejection from Week 5's contest agains the division rival Seahawks. Greenlaw headbutted Ernest Jones IV on the sideline when things got heated after a late hit on Sam Darnold.
As a result, the Niners had to weather the storm without him, and now it looks like they'll need to perform the same feat against the Commanders. Greenlaw appealed the suspension, but it was upheld.
An already battered 49ers' defense loses its second-leading tackler
The 49ers have endured a large amount of injuries thus far through the season's first five weeks. Another unnecessary healthy scratch will only hurt the team in the long run.
Greenlaw has 37 tackles on the young season, second to only Fred Warner with 50. His production has been essential, particularly in the absence of Nick Bosa.
Greenlaw's absence opens up plenty of space for rookie Jaden Dugger. Dugger filled in for the veteran against last week but now looks poised to start opposite the aforementioned Warner. That's a pretty solid spot to be in as a rookie, though normally one would hope for better circumstances.
Commanders' Jayden Daniels has the potential to punish 49ers for Greenlaw's lapse in judgement
On the other side of the field, Jayden Daniels looked like himself last week in his return from injury. While the Commanders suffered an embarrassing tie thanks to Daniels' buzzer-beating mental lapse, the QB still carried the ball nine times for 103 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Daniels has shown that he can be a real threat on the ground, and that's exactly where the 49ers will need Dugger to step up. This could be a real opportunity for the young linebacker. A good game here can show that he's capable of bolstering the 49ers' linebacking depth. But a bad game chasing Daniels' heels could have adverse effects on the team's currently spotless perfect record.
San Francisco's defense is simply a different animal with Greenlaw in it, which is exactly why his absence stings. The 49ers can survive without him for a night, but they cannot make a habit of weekends where his temper writes the lineup card.
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