The Faithful had questions, and I’ve got the answers.

Each week throughout the season, fans will have the chance to submit their questions on social media or SMS, and I’ll answer them here in this dedicated Q&A series. It’s an opportunity to hear directly from the Faithful and highlight the storylines you care about most.

The 49ers return from their Bye week for a cross-conference contest at Levi’s® Stadium, this time facing the Tennessee Titans. After a week of rest and recovery, the team is looking to build momentum as they take on Tennessee. Let’s dive into your questions!

Q: Briana, who do you see becoming a leader on the defensive side of the ball, and would he be from the defensive back field? – Jimmy B. Jr.

I can definitely see Deommodore Lenoir stepping into that role. He’s in year five and has become the leader of a young DB room, guiding guys like Upton Stout, Chase Lucas, and Renardo Green; he sets the standard every day. This offseason, his teammates voted him the Dwight Clark Award winner and a team captain, which says a lot about how he’s viewed in the building. Beyond the intangibles, he’s also shown his leadership on the field. He’s started in all 13 games so far, recording two interceptions for 90 yards, five passes defended, 47 tackles, and three tackles for loss. And since LB Fred Warner‘s season-ending injury back in Week 6, Lenoir has shared that he’s been intentional about becoming more vocal and taking ownership of the secondary. If you’re looking to see who’s the leader of the backfield, Lenoir is absolutely that guy. You can vote him into the 2026 Pro Bowl Games here!

Q: Are we ever going to get a new helmet style? – Gerardo C.

Yes! The 49ers will debut a brand-new helmet this season as part of the NFL’s Rivalries program. For Week 18 against the Seahawks, the team will unveil its first-ever black helmet featuring red stripes and a gold facemask. It pairs with an all-black Rivalries uniform that includes red numbers outlined in gold with Saloon-style detailing. The Rivalries uniform will only appear once this season, so you won’t want to miss it in action during the regular-season finale.

Q: Who are some players to watch against the Titans this week? – Rudy S.

QB Brock Purdy and RB Christian McCaffrey headline the players to watch this week, especially as the 49ers look to take care of the football and find an early rhythm on offense. McCaffrey has been a true dual-threat this season, recording 85 receptions for 806 yards, and five receiving touchdowns, the most catches of any running back this year and the fifth most among all NFL players. You read that right. He has outpaced several receivers sitting in the top 10 for receptions this season. With eight or more catches this week against Tennessee, he would pass Roger Craig for the most single season receptions by a running back in franchise history. Meanwhile, Tennessee is coming off a game where its defense had multiple takeaways, including an interception, nine passes defended, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery, so ball security will be especially important in Week 15. Defensively, the focus will be on keeping Titans quarterback Cam Ward contained and limiting big plays from running back Tony Pollard, who is coming off a season-high 161 rushing yards.

Submit Your Questions

Each week, this series highlights questions directly from the Faithful. To have your question featured in the next edition, follow @49ers and @brianajeannel on Instagram and submit your question through the weekly Instagram story prompt. You can also text your questions to (408) 715-4949 or submit them to our YouTube community page.