49ers' Dre Greenlaw Loses Suspension Appeal; Deebo Samuel to Miss Weeks

The San Francisco 49ers' perfect start is about to get its toughest test. Linebacker Dre Greenlaw has lost his appeal of a one-game NFL suspension, NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reported Wednesday, leaving the 5-0 Niners without a defensive cornerstone for Monday night's home game against Washington.

The ban traces back to the 49ers' 32-29 win over Seattle on October 11, when Greenlaw was flagged for an altercation with Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV. The league's ruling means he will sit out one game without pay. Greenlaw ranks second on the team with 37 tackles through five weeks, and his absence forces a reshuffle in the middle of the defense. Rookie Jaden Dugger is expected to take on a bigger role, with veteran Nick Martin a candidate for a roster call-up, while Fred Warner will carry the load organizing the unit against the Commanders.

The timing could hardly be worse. Head coach Kyle Shanahan also confirmed that wide receiver Deebo Samuel is expected to miss a couple of weeks with a hamstring injury, sapping the offense of its most versatile playmaker just as it loses a defensive leader. Greenlaw is eligible to return after the one-game ban, but San Francisco must first survive a short-week Monday night without him.