Dre Greenlaw has his sights set on returning to the football field in Week 1 of the 2024 season. The San Francisco 49ers linebacker sustained a non-contact torn Achilles last month during the team's Super Bowl loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, dealing a significant blow to a team that fought into overtime in the NFL championship game.
Greenlaw underwent surgery on February 15 and recently shared a photo on Instagram of his rehabilitation from the Achilles injury.
#49ers Dre Greenlaw has begun the process of rehabbing from the achilles injury π pic.twitter.com/F9MPpW2XbL
β ππππππππ£ππ§π¨ (@TheSFNiners) March 27, 2024
The 49ers are approaching his recovery with patience and signed All-Pro linebacker De'Vondre Campbell to a one-year deal as an insurance policy.
"I think that De'Vondre gives us the opportunity of a guy who plays the way we play, a guy who's got a ton of experience that can fill in for Dre if he's not there," stated general manager John Lynch at the NFL owners meetings.
However, Lynch believes Greenlaw is determined to be available for the start of the regular season, commenting, "Dre will tell you he's going to be back Week 1. I don't put anything past Dre, but we have to be smart. Maybe a PUP (Physically Unable to Perform list) situation."
Greenlaw and linebacker Fred Warner have formed one of the top linebacker duos in the NFL, with many considering them the best.
"I have no doubt in my mind he'll come back better than he was," Warner said last month. "He's made of the right stuff, and, yeah, he'll be back."