LAS VEGAS -- Bad news for the San Francisco 49ers. Starting linebacker Dre Greenlaw has been carted off in the second quarter due to an Achilles injury.
The injury did not occur on the field of play. It took place as Greenlaw was going onto the field for the 49ers next defensive series. Greenlaw looks to be jumping and pushes off from his stance as if he is about to sprint to the field.
Dre Greenlaw appeared to injure himself jogging back onto the field pic.twitter.com/p3nwmTUsfO
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) February 12, 2024
That is when he falls to the ground and gets animated with pain. He tried to walk around a bit on the sideline but was immediately then taken to the locker room on the cart for further assessment. The worst may have just happened to Greenlaw here. Keep in mind that entering the playoffs he was dealing with Achilles tendinitis.
It is a tossup as of now if he is going to return. The 49ers have ruled him as questionable. I would imagine he stays out of the first half of the game, but there is definitely major concern with his injury. Should he be out for the rest of the game, then it will be a huge blow to the 49ers defense.
Greenlaw is one of the most underrated linebackers in football. He is also considered the "motor of the defense" by his teammates like Charvarius Ward. With Greenlaw currently out, that means the 49ers will look to four-year player Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles.
As of now, the 49ers defense has been stellar, so it will be interesting to see how they look the rest of the way with Greenlaw out.