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Deommodore Lenoir will never forget how Aaron Rodgers made him feel during his 2021 NFL rookie season.
The 49ers cornerback, who is entering his fourth NFL season, will have a bone to pick with the legendary quarterback when the two face the New York Jets in Week 1 at Levi’s Stadium.
Lenoir recently joined “The Richard Sherman Podcast” and reflected on the rocky start to his NFL career as his “rookie doghouse days” began after the 49ers faced then-Green Bay quarterback Rodgers and the Packers in Week 3 of the 2021 season.
“That was also my first game as a nickelback,” Lenoir said, describing his difficulties in that game. “And that was the game where Aaron Rodgers benched me. That was my rookie weakness after that game.”
“So I have something in store for him for Monday night in Week 1.”
Lenoir played all 90 defensive snaps and four special teams snaps in his NFL regular season debut. In the next game, he played 56 defensive snaps and two special teams snaps.
When Rodgers and the Packers came to town for their third game of the season, Lenoir’s defensive playing time had been cut in half compared to the season opener – he played just 45 snaps on defense and 12 on special teams.
After Lenoir’s performance against the Green Bay Packers, in which he was penalized for pass interference, among other things, he did not play a single defensive role in the next two games and was listed as inactive for the following three games.
The Oregon product finished the season with just 46 defensive appearances before missing the season finale against the Los Angeles Rams.
Three years later, a lot has changed for Lenoir. He has now made a name for himself as an established cornerback not only with the 49ers, but in football as a whole. And even though Rodgers is now on a different team, Lenoir still has that same unforgettable feeling for the 40-year-old signal-caller.
And just like The Faithful, he’s counting down the days until Week 1.
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