Deommodore Lenoir was a big fan of Chase Lucas' performance in the 49ers preseason opener
The San Francisco 49ers didn’t exactly get off on the right foot in their preseason opener on Saturday night, as they suffered a 30-9 defeat at the hands of the Denver Broncos. Despite the tough result, there were some standout performers for the Niners, with starting cornerback Deommodore Lenoir highlighting one of them on social media after the game.
Lenoir is penciled in as one of the 49ers’ starting cornerbacks heading into the 2025 campaign, but he’s going to need some help in the secondary if San Francisco intends to put together a bounce-back season. With that in mind, it looks like Chase Lucas could be making a serious push for a roster spot after his big game against the Broncos.
Deommodore Lenoir Praises Chase Lucas for his Big Game vs. Broncos
The 49ers scooped up Lenoir in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft, and he quickly turned himself into a versatile piece in their secondary. Lenoir has been a starter since 2022, and midway through last season, he earned himself a massive five-year, $92 million contract extension from San Francisco.
With several key pieces on defense departing this offseason, the Niners are going to be leaning more on Lenoir to step up and be a leader for them on that side of the ball. That was clear as day when he showed his support for Lucas after he put together a strong outing in San Fran’s preseason clash with Denver.
Lenoir has gotten close with Lucas over the past year after he latched on with the 49ers in 2024. A seventh-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Lucas began his career with the Detroit Lions, but he struggled to find his place with the team. After spending last season on the Niners’ practice squad, Lucas has caught some attention during training camp this year.
On Saturday night, Lucas was flying around the field, as he was tied for the team lead in tackles with eight, while also earning a pass deflection. Lucas’ solid play did not go unnoticed by Lenoir, as the veteran cornerback shared a post on his Instagram story of Lucas with four fire emojis above it.
Chase Lucas Making Push for 49ers Roster Spot
GettyChase Lucas celebrates on the field during a Detroit Lions game.
Earning a roster spot is going to be easier said than done for Lucas, but he’s making the most of his opportunity as Lenoir, Renardo Green, and Upton Stout all deal with injuries. Spending a year with the 49ers behind the scenes certainly appears to have helped Lucas, as his comfort in the team’s defensive scheme has been hard to ignore.
One preseason game isn’t going to earn Lucas a spot on San Francisco’s roster, but he’s playing so well right now that he’s even catching his teammates’ attention. Lucas will look to continue to string together some good practice sessions for the Niners as they prepare for their second preseason contest against the Las Vegas Raiders, which will take place on Aug. 16 at 4 p.m. ET.
