49ers react to Dre Greenlaw’s ejection after Seahawks sideline altercation

As expected, tensions flared between the San Francisco 49ers and the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. These NFC West rivals have no love lost, and a sideline altercation left the 49ers without one of their most impactful defensive players.

Linebacker Dre Greenlaw was ejected in the second quarter after headbutting Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV on the sideline. Greenlaw was wearing his helmet, while Jones was not, creating a potentially dangerous situation.

The incident followed a play in which Greenlaw hit Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold after he ran out of bounds. The contact prompted several Seattle players to converge on the 49ers linebacker.

Greenlaw appeared to feel provoked by the Seahawks players, but he ultimately let his emotions get the better of him during the confrontation with Jones. Fortunately, Jones did not appear to be injured in the exchange.

Now, questions remain about whether the NFL will discipline Greenlaw further, including a possible suspension. This isn't the first time the linebacker has let his emotions get the better of him during a game.

Fortunately for San Francisco, the 49ers overcame Greenlaw's ejection to secure a 32-29 victory over the Seahawks at Lumen Field. After the game, Greenlaw greeted his teammates following their hard-fought win.

Greenlaw's teammate and close friend, linebacker Fred Warner, said he was frustrated he couldn't reach the altercation in time to help defuse it.

"In the moment, I'm mad that I'm not closer to try to help him out," Warner said. "I tried to get there as fast as I could. I was too far away. He's helpless in that situation. He's all by himself on their sideline. Of course, they're trying to gang up on him, and good on them for baiting him into doing something.

"But we know we've got to be smart in all those situations, and I thought Dre tried for the most part, but it's just an unfortunate situation."

Safety Malik Mustapha said the defense understood it needed to adjust when a key player was removed from the game.

"We knew next man up, got to step up," Mustapha said. "It doesn't change our mission and our goal. We know that Dre is one of the engines of our defense, but at the end of the day, we're all bought in, and whoever's out there is out there. It doesn't matter if you're the backup or whatever. As soon as you step on the field, you're a starter.

"So, you just get out there and do your assignment and try not to be the weak link. Everyone's bought in, everyone's rallying, and no one's missing a step."

Rookie defensive tackle Gracen Halton also supported Greenlaw, saying he understood the emotions behind the confrontation.

"We felt the same way Dre did," Halton said in the locker room. "No matter what, if it was Dre, if it was me on there, I would do the same thing. So, we're right behind him. We got his back."

Head coach Kyle Shanahan was asked whether he disagreed with the officials' decision to eject Greenlaw.

"No, not at all," Shanahan said. "I didn't totally see it. I was told, but that's how it is. You're going to get baited big time, especially when you're on their bench. They're going to get close.

"And they told me that he headbutted a guy without a helmet. So, if that's exactly what happened, then yeah, we've got to be a lot smarter than that. Can't do that."

Shanahan said he hadn't spoken with Greenlaw about the incident after the game, as the team focused on celebrating the victory.

"We'll clean that stuff up tomorrow," Shanahan said. "But he knows he's got to be smarter."

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