It was not an easy start to the season for Malik Mustapha, who, after missing most of training camp with a hamstring strain, spent much of the first four weeks of the new campaign watching from the sideline.
Mustapha played only sporadic defensive snaps after falling behind Ji'Ayir Brown and Marques Sigle in the pecking order at safety.
But an injury to the latter opened the door for 2024 fourth-round pick Mustapha, whose performances in helping the 49ers improve to 6-0 have served as a reminder of why he was viewed as a potential cornerstone defensive piece following his rookie year.
Mustapha played a crucial role in the 49ers' Week 5 win over the Seattle Seahawks, consistently flying to the football and making a spectacular pass deflection before his hit on Cooper Kupp on the game's decisive fourth down sealed victory for the Niners.
And in the Niners' tense primetime victory over the Washington Commanders, Mustapha was once again the player who rescued the game for San Francisco.
With the Commanders on the 49er 17-yard line with 2:19 remaining in the game and hoping to complete a highly improbable comeback from 23-3 down, Mustapha made two successive outstanding plays that underlined his importance to a defense that is surging under coordinator Raheem Morris.
Mustapha displayed the downhill closing speed that is a predominant feature of his game as he fired into the backfield to stuff Jeremy McNichols on third-and-3, before then producing an outstanding play on the ball to prevent Treylon Burks from catching a touchdown on fourth down that would have left Washington with an extra point to take the lead.
The Commanders got the ball back for one last chance at a remarkable turnaround, but their failure to get anywhere close to the endzone on the final series left Mustapha to take in the plaudits for his game-saving heroics.
Said tight end George Kittle:
"I know that Malik was like gnawing on a bone like a rabid dog when he wasn't playing and so the fact that he's getting in there and now he's just taking advantage of that opportunity, I think I've said that 100,000 times up on this podium, talking about guys taking advantage of their opportunity. And that juice that he brings, I know that that helps Fred [Warner], that helps the defense, keeps his guys alive. And that play in the fourth quarter where he just came down and stuffed the running back, that was fantastic."
While Mustapha's frustration at not being involved significantly in the opening weeks may have been obvious to Kittle, the critical thing for the former Wake Forest star is that he saw the situation of often being in the role of spectator as an opportunity to develop his game.
And, over the last two games, it is clear that extra time to study and learn has been beneficial for Mustapha.
"I didn't have the start that I wanted this year, but it gave me a chance to really scale back, take a step back, observe, and see what ways I can improve my game, even if I'm not getting the physical reps, and then just being ready for my moment," Mustapha said.
"Everyone has a role on this team, and you never want to be too high or too low on yourself. You're just trying to find ways to improve day in and day out.
"Once my number is called, being in the best shape or best mindset to help my team win is key for us because they depend on me as I depend on them. I just thank God I was able to go out there these past couple of weeks and just put it out on full display."
Displays like the one Mustapha delivered on Monday are why he has been labeled as a 'missile' for the 49er defense.
But left tackle Trent Williams believes such monikers undersell the skill set of a player whose coverage instincts are just as impressive as his ultra-physical style of play.
"He's an enforcer. We need guys like that," Williams explained.
"Not only that, I mean, you see what he does for us in the pass game. I mean, literally won the game for us in the corner. I mean, at the pylon, breaking up that pass. He had a major breakup last game, he got him [Kupp] out of bounds. He's doing it all.
"I think the missile really describes him well, but it doesn't really encapsulate everything he does for this team."
After making the most of his time on the sideline and channeling the frustration of being on the bench early on into a memorable primetime performance, it is difficult to see Mustapha surrendering a grip on his starting berth. The missile should have plenty more chances this season to prove he is much more than that.
