San Francisco 49ers' Dre Greenlaw shares promising update on his recovery from Achilles injury
There is considerable doubt as to whether Dre Greenlaw will be ready for the start of the 2024 season after tearing his Achilles in a bizarre and pivotal moment in the San Francisco 49ers' Super Bowl 58 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Greenlaw suffered the injury while preparing to run onto the field in […]
There is considerable doubt as to whether Dre Greenlaw will be ready for the start of the 2024 season after tearing his Achilles in a bizarre and pivotal moment in the San Francisco 49ers' Super Bowl 58 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Greenlaw suffered the injury while preparing to run onto the field in the second quarter following a punt.
In a recent appearance on the '49ers Talk' podcast with NBC Sports Bay Area's Matt Maiocco, Greenlaw indicated he did not know when he would be able to return, with reports having previously suggested he was targeting Week 1. For his part, general manager John Lynch suggested Greenlaw could start the year on the PUP list.
On Thursday, Greenlaw received the Dwight Clark Award at the Dwight Clark Legacy Series event in San Jose and, while he again emphasized the "slow process" of his recovery, he also shared an update that indicated things are moving along nicely.
"It's a long, long, slow process," Greenlaw said.
"I'm feeling really, really good, though. I'm happy to be able to walk on the stage, actually. It's been about three months now since the injury.
"I just recently got out of the boot, and just, slowly, every day, just rehabbing, getting the strength, getting the mobility in it."And yeah, just doing whatever it takes to be able to get back on the field as soon as possible."
If Greenlaw is unable to get back on the field in time for the 49ers' season opener with the New York Jets, then De'Vondre Campbell will likely start the year in the WILL linebacker role next to MIKE linebacker Fred Warner. The 49ers signed former All-Pro Campbell in free agency after Eric Kendricks went back on an agreement to sign with San Francisco.
In that scenario, Dee Winters, Jalen Graham and Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles will be among the players in the mix to play the SAM linebacker role on base downs.
For a 49ers team looking to get over the hump after a Super Bowl defeat in which Greenlaw's exit was a clear turning point, they will be hoping to avoid such a situation and that one of their tone-setters on defense proves to be a quick healer.
San Francisco 49ers face an almost historically bad disadvantage on their 2024 NFL schedule
It’s going to make it a lot tougher.
