Since losing the Super Bowl in overtime, John Lynch and the San Francisco front office have completed more than 100 transactions, including a certain wide receiver and left tackle.
But in the context of their Monday Night Football opener this week (8:15 p.m., ESPN), a March 13 transaction is more intriguing. That’s when the 49ers signed unrestricted free agent Leonard Floyd.
Rewind to last Sept. 11 at MetLife Stadium. Then with the Bills, Floyd beat his man on the game’s fourth play and took down Rodgers on a seemingly uneventful sack, the 53rd of Floyd’s career.
“After the sack, I didn’t really know he was hurt,” Floyd said on Monday’s Adam Schefter Podcast. “I just remember playing football, a regular play.”
Following the game, Floyd said he received serious backlash from people on social media, including threats to harm his family.
“I was just playing football,” said Floyd, who didn’t find out the extent of Rodgers’ injury until after the game, when Jets fans lost their hope. “I ain’t trying to hurt him.
“He ended up getting hurt and I felt bad that he was hurt because I wanted to play against him. I want the best Aaron Rodgers. I want to go against the best version of him. It was a good play for me, bad play for him.”
Now in San Francisco, Floyd is expected to start Monday at right defensive end, opposite former Cowboys left tackle Tyron Smith. While some don’t see the 49ers getting to 12 wins this year, Floyd is certainly a key addition to an improved 49ers defense, with Nick Bosa on the other side. The 49ers also return strong safety Talanoa Hufanga, who missed their Super Bowl run after a torn ACL in November.