The 5-0 49ers had to play without linebacker Dre Greenlaw for more than two quarters. Next Monday night against the Commanders, they could be missing him for all four quarters.
Greenlaw's ejection for head-butting Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV (who wasn't wearing a helmet at the time) could result in a suspension.
The NFL will review the situation on Monday for potential discipline. And that discipline could include preventing Greenlaw from playing in Week 6.
The play itself was inherently unsafe. While not the same as the time when then-Browns defensive end Myles Garrett struck still-Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph with his own helmet, striking someone who isn't wearing a helmet in the head with a helmet should be a bright line, when it comes to discipline.
Then there's Greenlaw's history. He has now been ejected three times. In 2022, Greenlaw was sent to the showers prematurely for an illegal hit on Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert. In 2023, Greenlaw was tossed after a sideline incident that first introduced a national audience to the legend known widely as Big Dom.
Last year, Greenlaw was...
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