When the San Francisco 49ers offense is making noise, the names that usually follow are Brock Purdy, Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle and the playmakers finding the end zone. But through two weeks of the 2026 NFL season, one of San Francisco’s most impressive statistics starts in the trenches. The 49ers are the only team in the NFL that has not allowed a sack through the first two games of the season. And standing inside that protection is third-year offensive lineman Dominick Puni, who has started both games at right guard. For an offensive line, zero sacks is the kind of statistic that can easily get lost behind touchdowns and highlight plays. But for a quarterback, it can change everything. Purdy has had the time to operate. Against Miami in Week 2, Purdy completed 20 of 22 passes for 287 yards and two touchdowns while adding a rushing touchdown. He was hit twice but was not sacked as San Francisco rolled to a 35-13 victory and improved to 2-0. That clean pocket does not happen by accident.
The Five Up Front
San Francisco’s current unofficial depth chart, updated September 24, lists its starting offensive line as:
- LT: Trent Williams
- LG: Connor Colby
- C: Jake Brendel
- RG: Dominick Puni
- RT: Colton McKivitz
At 26 years old, Puni is entering his third NFL season and has established himself as the 49ers’ starting right guard. The former Kansas standout has started every game of his NFL career, including both games to open the 2026 season. That consistency matters. Puni was originally selected by San Francisco in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft and immediately stepped into a starting role. As a rookie, he started all 17 games at right guard and earned a spot on the Pro Football Writers of America’s All-Rookie Team. Now, two seasons later, he is part of a group helping set the tone for a 49ers offense that has opened the year 2-0.
The offensive line’s job is rarely glamorous. There is no touchdown celebration for keeping a defender away from the quarterback. There is no box-score statistic for giving Purdy an extra second to find Kittle downfield or letting McCaffrey find a crease. But those moments are created by the five players up front. Through two games, San Francisco has allowed zero sacks and only 11 pressures charged to its offensive line, according to Pro Football Focus data cited by 49ers Webzone. Seven of those pressures came against the Rams in Week 1, while four came against Miami in Week 2. Puni has been part of that equation from the right guard spot. Against the Rams in Week 1 in Melbourne, Australia, Puni posted the team’s best pass-blocking grade among its offensive linemen, according to PFF grades reported after the game.
And while zero sacks is an impressive team statistic, it is worth keeping perspective. A sack-free game does not mean an offensive line has been flawless, and San Francisco has still surrendered pressures. Quarterback movement, play design and how quickly the ball comes out all contribute to a team’s sack total. Still, two consecutive games without allowing a sack is significant. In fact, this is the first time in franchise history that San Francisco has opened a season with back-to-back sack-free games since sacks became an official statistic in 1982. That’s history happening quietly in the trenches…
For Island City Media, Puni’s presence makes the story even more meaningful. The 6-foot-5, 313-pound lineman has become a familiar face in San Francisco’s starting five, bringing a physical presence to the interior of the offensive line. And while offensive line play may not always generate the same attention as a quarterback throwing touchdowns or a receiver making a one-handed catch, there is something special about watching a young Polynesian player establish himself in one of football’s most demanding positions. Puni is not the quarterback. He is not the player fans will necessarily see on the broadcast after every successful play. But when Purdy drops back and has time to throw, Puni is part of the reason. When the 49ers move the chains, Puni is part of the foundation. And when the quarterback walks away from two games without being sacked, the offensive line gets to share in that accomplishment.
San Francisco’s start has been impressive, but two games are still only two games. The 49ers opened the season with a 27-7 win over the Los Angeles Rams before defeating Miami 35-13. The back-to-back 20-plus-point victories marked the first time in franchise history San Francisco had opened a season that way. The challenge now is maintaining that standard. Defenses will adjust. Pass rushers will get more opportunities. The season will test the depth, communication and consistency of this offensive line in ways that two September games cannot. But for now, San Francisco’s front five has given Purdy something every quarterback wants when the ball is snapped: time. And right guard Dominick Puni is right there in the middle of it. For an offensive lineman, sometimes the biggest compliment is the simplest one. Nobody got to the quarterback. And through two games, nobody in the NFL has done it against the 49ers.
