When healthy, the San Francisco 49ers have the best linebacking corps in football.

The problem the 49ers have heading into 2024 is that it is highly doubtful that they will be healthy at one of their strongest positions.

Fred Warner, the 49ers' MIKE is the premier linebacker in the league. However, with his running mate Dre Greenlaw still recovering from a serious injury suffered in the Super Bowl, the 49ers have some questions to answer at linebacker ahead of training camp, which begins properly when veterans report on Tuesday.

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When will Dre Greenlaw return?

The most bizarre moment of the 49ers' 2023 season came in the Super Bowl, when Greenlaw went down in the second quarter with a torn Achilles suffered while running onto the field.

Greenlaw had initially expressed a desire to be ready to return in time for the season opener. That always seemed ambitious and, after GM John Lynch indicated he would more likely start the season on PUP, Greenlaw revised his forecast.

So Greenlaw’s return date remains something of a mystery. When the 49ers host their first media availability of training camp, it will be interesting to hear if Kyle Shanahan is able to shed on any light on when he might be back.

Will Campbell’s love affair continue?

After failing to sign Eric Kendricks as insurance for Greenlaw, the 49ers turned their attention to former Green Bay Packers All-Pro De’Vondre Campbell.

Having named first-team All-Pro in 2021, Campbell endured a drop-off over the course of the subsequent two seasons, though that was a decline he blamed on the Green Bay coaching staff.

Since joining the 49ers, Campbell has made it abundantly clear how happy he is with the change of scenery.

Campbell posted on social media that he had fallen in love with football again. While such posts back in May mean nothing when it comes to actual results on the football field, his excitement served as an encouraging sign that the 49ers’ scheme can help Campbell get back to somewhere near his best.

Camp will provide more tangible evidence as to whether Campbell and the 49ers are indeed a perfect fit.

Could the summer belong to Winters?

If there is one player who could challenge Campbell for the role of WILL linebacker in Greenlaw's absence, it appears to be Dee Winters.

The 2023 sixth-round pick has 4.4 speed and a history of making plays in the backfield in college at TCU. After being largely restricted to special teams duty last season, Winters seems well set to be much more involved on defense in his second year in the league. 

Optimism around Winters comes from his efforts in the workout program, which saw him draw rave reviews from Warner.

"I think Dee's probably had the best OTAs out of anybody on the team," Warner said.

"I feel like he's come along since last year. I remember he came in as a rookie, was struggling to learn the plays, and trying to get in shape, and all those little things that you got to learn as a professional.

"And [he] has come in this year and has just been on it, making plays left and right. He came in great shape this OTAs, and so he's set himself up to have a great training camp. He's going to train hard this summer and have a chance."

At the very least Winters will have a chance to be the starting SAM linebacker on base downs if Greenlaw isn't healthy. If he carry his positive momentum into camp, he may soon become the favorite to earn that role and present himself as a potential long-term successor to Greenlaw, who is poised to hit free agency in 2025.

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