SANTA CLARA — Linebacker Dre Greenlaw, 10 months since tearing his left Achilles in the Super Bowl, is suiting up for his first action since then.
The 49ers activated Greenlaw off injured reserve some four hours before today’s 5:15 p.m. kickoff against the Los Angeles Rams at Levi’s Stadium.
Not only is Greenlaw active but so are running back Isaac Guerendo (foot sprain) and defensive end Nick Bosa (oblique, hip), the latter of whom is returning from a three-game hiatus.
Greenlaw has put in two weeks of practice and months of rehabilitation to recover from an injury that happened in bizarre fashion. After playing 12 snaps and making three tackles, he pounced off the 49ers’ sideline for their fourth defensive series, only to promptly fold onto the ground and stun everyone. Roughly nine minutes remained until halftime, with the 49ers ahead 3-0 in an eventual 25-22 overtime defeat.
Greenlaw battled a right Achilles issue in the preceding two months, only to injure his left in non-contact fashion running onto the field after a punt pinned Kansas City at their 20-yard line.
The 49ers’ defense parlayed Sunday’s return of safety Talanoa Hufanga into its best outing of the season, allowing just four yards in the first half of a 38-13 rout of the Chicago Bears. That snapped a three-game losing streak for the reigning NFC champions who are teetering on the brink of playoff elimination and/or contention
Ruled out Wednesday from this game are left tackle Trent Williams, safety Malik Mustapha and offensive lineman Ben Bartch, who’s been placed on injured reserve to open a roster spot for Greenlaw’s comeback.
Also out quarterback Joshua Dobbs, defensive tackle Khalil Davis, running back Israel Abanikanda and cornerback Rock Ya-Sin.
DOC EDWARDS HONORED
Dr. Harry Edwards, who’s consulted nearly 45 years for the 49ers, has been named their Inspire Change Changemaker, an award reflecting his work toward social justice. Edwards, 82, joined the 49ers under then-coach Bill Walsh in the early 1980s and helped the coach’s diversity-hiring efforts that have become a model across the league. This Changemaker award comes with a $10,000 donation from the NFL Foundation that Edwards himself will match and give to Heritage Home.
A year ago, Edwards disclosed his battle with bone cancer. A UC Berkeley professor emeritus of sociology, he’s played a prominent role in sports protests and encouraged Black athletes to speak publicly about racial injustice, including Colin Kaepernick in 2016.
Originally Published: December 12, 2024 at 1:52 PM PST
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