Unsung stopper tackles big week

LOS ANGELES — Have yourself a week, D.J. Jones.

At the beginning of last week, the 49ers nose tackle got down on one knee and proposed to his girlfriend on the field at Levi’s Stadium before the Monday night game against the Browns.

Sunday afternoon, Jones brought the Rams to their knees.

With the game tied 77 and four minutes left in the second quarter, the Rams were at the 49ers’ 1yard line. On third down, running back Malcolm Brown was stopped cold by Jones for no gain.

On fourth down, same deal. It was the turning point in the 49ers’ 207 win.

Jones said the importance of that last play was momentarily lost on him.

“To be honest, I didn’t even know it was fourth down, ’cause they were running the hurryup, I didn’t get a chance to look up at the scoreboard. But that meant a lot, man, just being able to finish. Just knowing you’ve got 10 guys just having your back ... I feel like that goalline stand was the start of our dominance for the rest of the game.”

Kyle Shanahan, Robert Saleh and several 49ers players marched to the interview podium, naming names, but Jones’ name never came up until Richard Sherman took the stand and a media person mentioned Jones. Sherman went nuts.

“D.J. Jones! D.J. Jones! D.J. Jones! Guy doesn’t get enough credit. We don’t stop all those running games without him. He takes on double teams constantly, he’s incredibly solid, he doesn’t get enough respect, enough love.”

Well, he does from his girlfriend, Kayla Fannin, who said yes to Jones’ question. At least she knows who Jones is. The thirdyear player, a sixthround pick from Mississippi, plays on the 49ers’ base defense but makes all his noise with his pads. He finished with four tackles, three of them solo. The lack of attention bothers him not.

“Nose guards?” said Jones. “We do what we do. We stay in the gap, we hit the gap, let the linebackers make plays, we make a few plays. But I’m just a team guy. We’re fiveandoh, I have no problem.”

Jones’ fiancée was not in LA. for the game; she was back in the Bay Area running her women’s apparel company, Closet 38. Jones asked me to mention Fannin and her company. That’s only fair. At least somebody in the family will be famous.