The 49ers named eight team captains for the 2025 NFL season, including three players on defense.

Two of those defensive captains, Nick Bosa and Fred Warner — two stars who are in their third and sixth seasons in that role, respectively — likely are lost for the year after Warner’s brutal ankle injury suffered in Sunday’s 30-19 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

That leaves cornerback Deommodore Lenoir, a fifth-year player and first-time captain, to lead the San Francisco defense on the field. But he appears ready to step up in that role, as he detailed to KNBR’s “Murph and Markus” on Tuesday.

“Just being vocal,” Lenoir replied when asked about his leadership style. “I would say that’s the start because Fred was kind of the vocal piece, so now that that’s going to be gone, someone is going to have to fill in, which I feel like where I could fill in. You know, hold everybody accountable, make sure that we all are working as one.”

Of course, the 49ers still will be able to count on Warner’s leadership going forward, even after his injury. In fact, Lenoir detailed how Warner remained in that mindset on Sunday despite suffering a dislocated and fractured ankle.

“He was still in good spirits. He wasn’t down on himself,” Lenoir described Warner’s mood on the field directly after getting hurt. “Dealing with an injury like that, you would think somebody would be down, but he was still in good spirits. He was just saying, ‘Next man up, you know, just finish the game and keep fighting.'”

It didn’t stop there; Warner remained in the 49ers’ locker room until after the game ended so he could motivate the team after a tough loss. Lenoir emphasized what that gesture meant to him and his San Francisco teammates.

“That just shows his character and his leadership — just the type of player he is,” Lenoir explained. “He’s never going to quit on this team, always going to be there when we need him.”

Nevertheless, the 49ers clearly missed Warner’s presence on the field in Week 6, struggling to generate many defensive stops after their star linebacker exited early. With plenty of games still to play, Lenoir especially will be a key player to watch on a banged-up San Francisco unit.

Download and follow the 49ers Talk Podcast