Deommodore Lenoir has spent nearly his entire six-year career lining up alongside Dre Greenlaw and Deebo Samuel with the San Francisco. Last season, for the first time, he had neither. But this summer, both are back in the building. And Lenoir says he's already seen the difference."It feels like how it's supposed to be," Lenoir said on KNBR. "I mean, before they were injured, I ain't really play no games without him. So just to have him back, just even in practice, seeing them, I know it just gives the defense confidence have everybody flying around."Both players' paths back to Santa Clara took a detour first. Greenlaw tore his Achilles on the sideline just before kickoff of Super Bowl LVIII, then left in free agency the following offseason for a three-year, $35 million deal with the Broncos. Injuries limited him to eight games in Denver before the team released him, and San Francisco brought him back on a one-year, $7.5 million contract in March. Samuel's exit came differently: He was dealt to Washington, where he spent one year before the Commanders let him walk. He, too, returned to San Francisco on a one-year deal this offseason.For Lenoir, having familiar faces back around him carries extra weight."Dre, he's always the hammer. He's never the nail," Lenoir said, pointing to Greenlaw's physical standard that has stuck with him ever since and shaped how he approaches his own game at corner.Samuel's return drew similar enthusiasm, both for what he brings to the locker room and what he presents as a problem in practice. "I was all for this signing with Deebo," Lenoir said. "The energy he brings to the team he always knows how to get the guys wound up. And of course his play on the field he could take a jet sweep, he can get a screen, he's just an electric player."With two of the 49ers' top leaders from a few seasons ago back in tow, Lenoir is just one of the excited players looking forward to the 2026 season.This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: 49ers CB explains importance of 2 familiar faces returning to Bay Area