Yetur Gross-Matos has endured a largely frustrating first season with the San Francisco 49ers after signing a two-year contract in free agency.

The versatile pass rusher has been hindered by a knee injury for much of the campaign, but he exploded for three sacks last Sunday as the 49ers got back to winning ways to keep their playoff hopes alive with a blowout of the Chicago Bears.

It was the first three-sack game of his career for the former second-round pick of the Carolina Panthers.

Gross-Matos's previous high was 2.5 sacks for the Carolina Panthers in a defeat to the Buffalo Bills in 2021.

And his new career-best was enough for Gross-Matos to receive the NFC Defensive Player of the Week award for Week 14.

Gross-Matos is only the second 49ers defensive lineman to win the award since 2005, joining Nick Bosa, who is a five-time recipient.

With Bosa, who has missed the last three games with hip and oblique injuries, sitting out the 49ers' only practice ahead of Thursday's must-win matchup with the Los Angeles Rams, there will likely be an emphasis on Gross-Matos to create disruption to help San Francisco contain Matthew Stafford and Co.

Gross-Matos delivering another three-sack showing is unlikely, but a performance in which he helps get Stafford and the Los Angeles offense out of rhythm could prove even more important than his efforts against the Bears.