Detroit Lions running back LeGarrette Blount was ejected Sunday for leaving the bench and shoving a San Francisco 49ers player to the ground.

With the Lions trailing 30-13 with 10:25 left to play in the fourth quarter, 49ers linebacker Elijah Lee hit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford, who had been scrambling for extra yardage near the right sideline. Stafford appeared to be heading toward the sideline but was not out of bounds and was sent tumbling to the ground. Blount, who wasn’t in the play, walked over to Lee and shoved him, knocking him down to the ground.

Officials immediately threw a flag and shortly after disqualified Blount from the rest of the game.

Blount was likely trying to protect his quarterback, but the shove may have been the result of a series of frustrating performances so far from the Lions, who have struggled in the first two games of coach Matt Patricia’s career. Detroit opened its season with a 48-17 loss to the New York Jets last Monday.

Blount had eight carries and 38 yards and one catch for a 3-yard loss prior to his ejection. Fellow Lions running back Theo Riddick left the game with an ankle injury, leaving rookie Kerryon Johnson as Detroit's only healthy running back.

Follow Lorenzo Reyes on Twitter @LorenzoGReyes.