San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw has been suspended without pay for one game by the NFL following an altercation during his team’s 32-29 victory over the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday at Lumen Field.

The decision leaves the undefeated 49ers, now 5-0, without one of their key defensive pieces for their Week 6 Monday Night Football matchup against the Washington Commanders.

The incident unfolded in the second quarter after Greenlaw was flagged for a late hit out of bounds on Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold.

As emotions escalated on the Seattle sideline, Greenlaw engaged with Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV and then headbutted him while wearing his own helmet. Jones was not wearing a helmet at the time. Officials ejected Greenlaw from the game for the unsportsmanlike act.

League officials later confirmed the one-game suspension, citing a violation of Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1, which covers conduct contrary to the generally understood principles of sportsmanship.

Greenlaw will be eligible to return to the 49ers’ active roster on Tuesday, October 20, the day after San Francisco hosts Washington. According to reports, he plans to appeal the penalty.

This is not Greenlaw’s first brush with league discipline in recent weeks.

He was fined the previous week for comments directed toward the Denver Broncos sideline.

The latest suspension adds another layer of scrutiny to a player who has been a physical presence for San Francisco’s defense when healthy.

Despite the loss of Greenlaw, the 49ers enter the Commanders game in strong position.

They have navigated early-season injuries to several key contributors and continue to look like one of the more complete teams in the league, blending efficient play from quarterback Brock Purdy with a consistent defensive effort.

The Commanders and the opponent that follows both enter with losing records, giving San Francisco a favorable stretch before its Week 8 bye.

The suspension does create a short-term hole at linebacker, particularly in a unit that relies on Greenlaw’s range and physicality.

How the 49ers redistribute those snaps will be closely watched against Washington, where depth and scheme adjustments will be tested on national television. For Greenlaw, the appeal process offers a chance to reduce or overturn the ban, but for now the league’s ruling stands, and he will sit out the next contest.

San Francisco’s 5-0 start has been built on resilience through adversity. Whether the team can maintain that momentum without Greenlaw for a week will offer an early test of its depth as the season moves deeper into October.

The Commanders game presents an immediate opportunity to show that the group remains capable of handling setbacks on the fly.