The San Francisco 49ers are adding firepower to their defense at the eleventh hour. According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw will make his 2024 regular season debut in tonight's Thursday Night Football showdown with the Los Angeles Rams.
Help on the way: The #49ers plan to activate standout LB Dre Greenlaw in advance of tonight’s game against the #Rams, sources say.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 12, 2024
Greenlaw tore his Achilles in the Super Bowl and has been working his way back. He’ll ease his way back in tonight. pic.twitter.com/zhf47yOpub
Greenlaw has been unavailable since tearing his Achilles while running onto the field between plays in Super Bowl LVIII. According to Rapoport, the 49ers intend to limit his snaps tonight as he eases back into playing shape.
Greenlaw should provide a significant boost to the 49ers defense. He initially joined the team as a fifth-round pick in 2019 and eventually earned a two-year, $16.4 million extension in 2022, so he is deeply familiar with the system and should be a stabilizing presence.
The 49ers have been struggling with details in crucial moments. Despite allowing the third-fewest yards in the league, their defense has allowed a sub-par 23.7 points per game due to their 27th-ranked third-down conversion rate and 31st-ranked red zone defense.
Once Greenlaw gets back up to speed, he should be a difference-maker for the 49ers. Unfortunately, they can't take all the time they please. With a 6-7 record and a 1-3 record inside the NFC West, the 49ers can't afford many losses if they're going to have a chance to win the division. The Seattle Seahawks currently lead the pack at 8-5, but the Rams (7-6) and Arizona Cardinals (6-7) are also still in the hunt.
If the 49ers are going to make a playoff push, it needs to begin tonight. A loss to the Rams will leave them in a nearly insurmountable hole in the NFC West. For their sake, they need Greenlaw back to peak form sooner rather than later.
Photo Credit: © Kyle Terada-Imagn Images
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