With his practice window opened up and the 49ers stumbling, could they shut the linebacker back down just as they get him going again?
The San Francisco 49ers have opened the practice window for linebacker Dre Greenlaw, and he has more to do than simply get on the field.
The last we saw of Greenlaw was Super Bowl LVIII when he suffered an Achilles tear from just walking out of the field. The loss of Greenlaw helped the Kansas City Chiefs offense get some rhythm after the injury.
It was terrible timing for many reasons. The length of time to recover from an Achilles injury is long, and given how the 49ers were playing football in February at this point, that meant it’d leak into the season.
But there’s also the issue of Greenlaw’s contract. 2024 is Greenlaw’s final year (he has two void years after), and whatever deal he gets may be decided by what he shows on the field. The problem is that the 49ers are in a position where they may not want to risk a single thing.
Over at NFL.com, Kevin Patra listed five free agents who could cash in down the stretch of the 2024 season. Greenlaw was listed at No. 4.
Greenlaw’s future is all about his health. If he hadn’t suffered an Achilles tear in Super Bowl LVIII, the smashmouth linebacker would be gearing up for a big payday. The talent, production and attitude are all top-notch. He topped 120 tackles in back-to-back seasons (2022 and ‘23), and he compiled 44 tackles and two picks over his last six playoff appearances. Greenlaw is the type of player who elevates a defense from good to great. Boy, has San Francisco missed his presence this season — as evidenced by the way they were just gashed in Green Bay in Week 12.
The 49ers opened the linebacker’s practice window this week, a sign that he’ll return to the field this season. Achilles tears are historically brutal on athletic playmakers, who usually need time to heal and recover. We often don’t see players regain their full power until more than a year later. Will that be the case with Greenlaw? If he’s diminished or suffers a setback, he could be looking at a one-year deal in free agency to regroup and then try the market again in 2026. But if he hits the ground running and solidifies a leaky Niners defense, someone will shell out for a difference-making 27-year-old.
Greenlaw’s absence has been sorely missed, especially in the run game. When Greenlaw is on the field, getting past the first wave of defenders typically means he congratulates the ball carrier with a punishing hit. Besides the loss on the field, that injury was the worst thing for his pending contract. Had Greenlaw been able to play out this year and continue that high level he’s shown, he no doubt would have forced another large check from the 49ers or someone else, provided he got out of their price range.
Unfortunately, his practice window has been opened, and we don’t know when he’ll see the field.
“It was a great week,” 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said Friday regarding Greenlaw’s first week back. “ Hopefully, next week will be even better.”
A follow-up question confirmed Greenlaw wouldn’t play Sunday against the Buffalo Bills, but Shanahan also reminded everyone that the game following Buffalo is on Thursday Night, which means less rest and less time for Greenlaw to get acclimated. So, there’s a good chance we might not see Greenlaw on Thursday, either.
As we’ve already discussed, the 49ers can afford only one more loss this season.
So that’s two games. Suppose the 49ers lose to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday (which is widely being predicted), that takes care of the final loss. Their Thursday night game is against the Chicago Bears. Winnable, yes, but this is the 2024 49ers we’re talking about here. Assume nothing. A loss against Chicago could be the final blow to their playoff hopes.
So, what does this have to do with Greenlaw? At best, he’d get to play the season’s final four games. And if there’s two losses, the 49ers may choose to use him sparingly. There’s no need to aggravate Greenlaw’s injury if there’s no postseason. And if he does play, it’s a very different dynamic when the 49ers are not contending for the postseason, especially when he needs to get acclimated on gameday anyway. It’s not ideal for a guy in a contract year trying to show once more he’s worth the money.
On the other hand, if the 49ers can win against either Chicago or Buffalo, then Greenlaw comes in with the 49ers playing a crucial four-game stretch where they may—or may not—make the postseason. Greenlaw would be depended on to fix up the defense and stop the ridiculous boneheaded calls we’ve seen late in the game. Would four games be enough to get a multi-year extension if that happens? It’s better than the 49ers having nothing to play for, at the very least.
It shapes up to an interesting offseason where Greenlaw either gets a one-year prove-it deal or faith that he can return to form and another multi-year extension.
Either way, his opportunity depends on how the 49ers do over the next two weeks.