San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan announced that linebacker Dre Greenlaw, who recently returned from an Achilles injury, will not play again this season. Shanahan shared the update with reporters ahead of Thursday's practice as the team prepares for its Week 17 matchup against the Detroit Lions.
"He's not going to play in these last two games," Shanahan said.
When asked if Greenlaw, who had worked hard to return to the field, pushed back on the decision, Shanahan noted, "He understood."
Greenlaw experienced knee soreness after his first game back in Week 15 against the Los Angeles Rams. He played again in Sunday's matchup against the Miami Dolphins but left early due to calf soreness, managing only four defensive snaps.
"I'm always going to be looking out for Dre because that's like my little brother," linebacker Fred Warner said on Thursday. "I'm always going to want what's best for him. Obviously, we would love to have had him to finish the season off, especially myself, but at the end of the day, his health is what's most important."
In two games this season, Greenlaw recorded nine tackles. The sixth-year NFL veteran is set to become a free agent this offseason.