No slow start for 49ers after these unsung players stepped up vs. Jets

The 49ers avoided a slow start with a commanding 32-19 Week 1 win over the Jets, thanks to these five unsung players stepping up.

No Christian McCaffrey? No Talanoa Hufanga? No Dre Greenlaw? No worries.

The San Francisco 49ers got 2024 off to a strong start and sent a statement to the rest of the league, taking out a New York Jets team that some fancied could come over to the West Coast and snag the road victory with the Niners reeling from what can be generously called an eventful offseason.

Four quarters later, a 32-19 statement (32-13 before a late garbage-time touchdown to the Jets) to the rest of the league showed that the 49ers have a lot of firepower and a chip on their shoulder to boot. Granted, Jets EDGE Haason Reddick missed the game due to a holdout, but that alone didn't account for what we saw from the team in Week1.

What was truly impressive wasn't just the usual stars having an impact, but the unsung heroes on the roster.

Read More: 4 heroes to salute from 49ers' dominant Week 1 win vs. Jets


Let's take a quick look at the five unsung heroes that stepped up big in Week 1.

Jordan Mason

What can you say that hasn't already been said? Running back Jordan Mason was thrust into the starting lineup late after winning the No. 2 job in the preseason and delivered big time with 147 yards and a touchdown on a ridiculous 5.7 yards per attempt against the Jets.

He'll hand back the starting mantle for Week 2, presumably, but he's shown he can take on a big workload this season to take some of the pressure off McCaffrey.

Jauan Jennings

Jauan Jennings is a Toyota Camry in a 49ers receiving corps that's full of Ferraris. Is he flashy? Of course not. Will he always be a reliable method to get you home? Damn straight, he will.

Jennings was the leading receiver for San Francisco with five receptions for 64 yards. He looks ready to be, at worst, one of the best third wide receivers on any roster this season.

Dominick Puni

The young rookie guard did not have an easy defensive line to handle even with Reddick out, especially with Quinnen Williams in the middle. It didn't matter, the young rookie making his regular-season debut was solid against some tough opposition.

The team hasn't had stability on the right side of the offensive line for a while now. Could Dominick Puni start to change that?

Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles

Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles will see some more time on the field for the defense until Greenlaw returns. He's never going to reach the heights that Greenlaw has, but the reserve linebacker just needs to help stifle the offense alongside his talented teammates and maybe make some plays once in a while.

Mission accomplished. He didn't look out of place on the field and scooped an interception as well. Give him a tick for Week 1.

Nick Sorenson

The first-year defensive coordinator's unit held the Jets to only 13 points before garbage time, and the 49ers run defense looks rejuvenated after some stagnation the last few seasons. Sure, he was missing Greenlaw and Hufanga but it didn't matter, as the defense just kept the momentum rolling and made Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers uncomfortable at times despite recording only one sack on the scoresheet.

Like Puni, Sorensen did not disappoint in his debut. Give the defensive coordinator a tick as well.