"Justin Jefferson, of course, you see his contract. When we had that joint practice [in 2022], I feel me going against him helped me make the team that year. I was coming off a rookie slump -- the dog house. In my second year, we had drafted some guys, and I was already in a bad position; I was fighting for a roster spot."
"What drove me into making the team ... When I got lined up against Justin Jefferson -- I remember -- Kyle [Shanahan] was standing right behind them, watching. I was like, 'This is my shot to make the team.' That rep, he ran a dig route; I broke it up, and then I looked at Kyle, and he was smiling. So I'm like, 'All right, I'm in the plus.'"
"[That] whole practice, everywhere Justin Jefferson going, I'm telling Ambry [Thomas], 'I'm following him.' I need this one. We were talking, going back and forth. We going at it ... after that, it was kind of like respect. And then I went and balled in the game. And that's when I felt I was in a better position to make the team."
"Lenoir finished the preseason game with four tackles and the confidence to remain dialed in. Since that offseason, Lenoir has made 163 combined tackles, 15 pass deflections, and continued to establish himself as a key player in the 49ers' defense."
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