When the lights come on for Monday Night Football, the San Francisco 49ers won’t just be tested by a rebuilding Carolina Panthers team, they’ll be tested by one of the NFL’s brightest young stars.
Rookie first-rounder Tetairoa McMillan has quickly become one of the league’s most intriguing perimeter weapons, pairing a towering 6-foot-5 frame with a massive catch radius and natural body control that already mirrors seasoned pros.
For the Niners, the player tasked with combating that matchup nightmare is fifth-year corner Deommodore Lenoir, a steadying presence whose veteran instincts will be essential if San Francisco wants to dictate the game’s terms in prime time.
For Lenoir, a former fifth-rounder in 2021, he’s evolved into a cornerstone of the 49ers’ secondary, thriving on anticipation, and a strong understanding of route stems. At 5-foot-10, he’s undersized compared to the receivers he often shadows, but he compensates with controlled technique and an ability to stay attached through breaks.
Against McMillan, however, size doesn’t just matter. It shapes the very geometry of the matchup. McMillan’s ability to extend beyond contact, win above the rim, and finish through traffic gives Carolina a built-in advantage anytime the ball is in the air.
That’s why Lenoir’s experience is critical, as size and athleticism aren’t enough to win matchup after matchup at the NFL level.
He won’t win with height, but he can win with timing. Disrupting the rookie’s release, attacking the catch point early, and playing through McMillan’s hands are the avenues that can tilt the matchup toward San Francisco. Lenoir has learned how to survive physically mismatched battles by being first at everything: first at recognition, first at leverage, first at closing space.
That approach must be airtight on Monday.
For the Panthers, quarterback Bryce Young has leaned heavily on McMillan’s presence in contested situations, using the rookie’s frame as a safety valve whenever a play becomes cloudy. If Lenoir limits those emergency outlets — especially in high leverage moments — Young will be forced deeper into his reads, increasing the likelihood of hesitations, late throws, and turnover-worthy moments.
Taking away McMillan isn’t just about stopping one receiver. It’s about disrupting the timing and rhythm of the entire Carolina offense.
For head coach Kyle Shanahan and his group, San Francisco’s path to a primetime win doesn’t require shutting down McMillan completely; it requires keeping him from taking over, limiting him on the stat sheet.
Overall, Monday night will showcase a simple case of a size mismatch, but it’s also an opportunity for a veteran corner to show why experience, patience, and anticipation can neutralize a rising star and force McMillan to earn every target, and every inch of space on the outside.
