On Tuesday, the San Francisco 49ers placed linebacker Dre Greenlaw on the injured reserve list.
It officially ends an abbreviated 2024 season for Greenlaw and it could also mean that the 49ers linebacker has played his final snap for San Francisco.
Greenlaw is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason. The sixth-year pro worked hard to return from a torn left Achilles that he suffered in last season’s Super Bowl.
Greenlaw made his 2024 season debut against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 15. The Arkansas alum flashed immediately in his return, tallying eight tackles in just 30 snaps against the Rams.
But, Greenlaw exited midway through that contest against Los Angeles with Achilles and knee soreness. Then, in the ensuing game at Miami, Greenlaw played just four snaps before leaving with a right calf injury.
In his six seasons with San Francisco including the postseason, Greenlaw has appeared in 76 games, recorded 527 tackles, 3.5 sacks, five interceptions, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries and scored one touchdown.
Greenlaw commented on his pending free agency two weeks ago.
“My attitude, honestly, I’m not thinking about all of the free agency stuff. I’m just thinking about three games that I’ve got left with my teammates. At the end of the day, I’m probably going to be a free agent regardless, so I can’t, I’m not trying to rush the process of being a free agent.
“I’ve got three games left to enjoy with Fred and Bosa and Purdy and all those guys. When that time comes, I can’t stop it. I can’t do nothing about it, so all I can do is just enjoy these three games,” Greenlaw said on Dec. 17.
With Greenlaw headed to the IR, the 49ers also made a corresponding roster move.
San Francisco signed offensive lineman Zack Johnson to the team’s practice squad.
Johnson entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Green Bay Packers in 2020.
A native of Apple Valley, Minn., the 27-year-old has spent time on the practice squads of Green Bay (2020-21), Arizona (2021), Denver (2022), Baltimore (2022), Tennessee (2022-23) and Cleveland (2024).
Johnson appeared in one game with the Titans in 2022. The North Dakota State alum also spent the 2023 season with the United Football League’s (UFL) Birmingham Stallions.