Niners star linebacker, Dre Greenlaw, is currently wrestling with an uncertain timeline for his return to the field.
His nerve-racking journey has been a turbulent roller coaster of rehab and recovery since the traumatizing incident on Super Bowl Sunday that left him with a serious Achilles tear.
Super Bowl Sunday was anything but ordinary for Greenlaw. In an interview, he claims that mere recollection of the event ‘reopens the wound a bit’.
“Sometimes you get a little flashback and shed a couple of tears thinking about it,” Greenlaw told NBC Sports Bay Area.
Greenlaw, known for his tenacity, had previously sat out the Week 18 game against the Rams due to an Achilles injury in his right leg.
However, in an impressive show of fortitude, the linebacker bounced back with a stellar two-interception performance during the 49ers’ Divisional Round win against the Packers.
However, Greenlaw could only make 12 plays into the Super Bowl due to a freak, non-contact injury in his left leg while entering the field, resulting in an Achilles tear.
This incident led to a immediate surgery, effectively ending his participation in last season’s showpiece. Greenlaw’s post-operative journey of recovery started about three months ago.
The Achilles surgery, conducted four days after San Francisco’s defeat, is typically followed by a nine-month recovery period.
49ers General Manager, John Lynch, has suggested that Greenlaw might start the new season on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list.
Therefore, it seems, his potential absence in at least the first four games of the regular season is imminent. With the new season nearing, the 49ers appear to be preparing for another title run.
Understanding the weight of Greenlaw’s contribution, the team management may take a patient approach towards his return until he fully recovers.
Despite the unfixed timeline, Greenlaw’s motivation remains unbroken. He feels uncertain about when he will regain his fitness.
However, he believes that his instinct, coupled with medical advice, will signal when he’s ready. “When I feel like I can go out there and I really contribute and bring everything I got, I’m just going to do that every game,” he said. “I don’t know if it’s going to be two, three, five, six, eight or 10 (games). But when I do get the opportunity, I’m just going to play like it’s the Super Bowl every game.”
Niners LB Dre Greenlaw unsure of timeline for return after torn Achilles in Super Bowl loss: "When I do get the opportunity, I'm just going to play like it's the Super Bowl every game"https://t.co/Ok7vXPeBBy pic.twitter.com/hgM2PcwGCu
— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) May 13, 2024
