49ers safety Malik Mustapha had the perfect response after getting trucked by Patrick Mahomes

Malik Mustapha has quickly emerged as a key cog in the San Francisco 49ers defense. The rookie safety joined the starting lineup in place of an injured Tanaloa Hufanga and has been a useful presence against the run and pass.

In Week 7, he played like he’d been shot out of a cannon to get to the line of scrimmage and sniff out the Kansas City Chiefs’ run plays. That held true in the fourth quarter when Patrick Mahomes took a delayed quarterback keeper up the gut near the goal line. As blockers ahead of him cleared space, Mustapha was the only thing standing between Mahomes and six points.

Mahomes got the six and took a piece of Mustapha’s pride in the process.

Brutal. Fortunately, Mustapha was able to shrug it off online after the game.

Mustapha remains a key piece of of the 49ers defense — a unit that’s been put to the test throughout the first half of the 2024 season. San Francisco needs him to have a short memory to help the team dig out of a 3-4 hole.