The San Francisco 49ers suffered a shocking injury during the Super Bowl last season. When running onto the field, star linebacker Dre Greenlaw fell to the ground with a torn Achilles.
It was a moment that changed the outlook of the game. The 49ers’ defense was instantly weaker and one of their top playmakers was gone for the rest of the game. Unfortunately, San Francisco ended up losing.
Now, the question becomes, when will Greenlaw be able to return to the field this season? With such a big injury happening in the Super Bowl, he will almost certainly miss some time to begin the 2024 season.
What kind of return timeline could the 49ers be looking at when it comes to Greenlaw?
San Francisco 49ers Reporter Reveals Return Timeline for Dre Greenlaw
Sports Illustrated’s Grant Cohn, who covers the San Francisco 49ers, has revealed a potential plan for Greenlaw. He believes that Greenlaw will begin the 2024 season on the PUP list, which would hold him out at least the first four games of the year.
“So theoretically, Greenlaw could return as early as Week 5 against the Arizona Cardinals. But even that would be extremely aggressive. The 49ers would be wise to go slowly with Greenlaw, because he’s so important to their defense and they can’t afford for him to suffer a setback or another serious injury.”
Cohn makes a very good point. There is no reason to rush Greenlaw back to the field.
As long as he can make a return and get up to speed by the time the playoffs arrive, he should be given as much time as possible. Getting him back early in the year is not necessary.
During the 2023 season, Greenlaw ended up recording 120 total tackles to go along with 1.5 sacks and four defended passes. He was a major key in both run and pass coverage.
Hopefully, the recovery from his injury will continue going smoothly. The San Francisco 49ers need their star linebacker back on the field. It sounds like he’ll miss some time to begin the year, but should be back at some point before the playoffs.