49ers’ Kyle Shanahan shares positive update on Dre Greenlaw and discusses return timeline

Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

The San Francisco 49ers are encouraged by the progress of linebacker Dre Greenlaw as he recovers from a ruptured Achilles tendon in February. While Greenlaw remains on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, head coach Kyle Shanahan expressed optimism that the linebacker will return to the field at some point this season.

“He had a really good week,” Shanahan told reporters Friday. “It was great for him to have him back out there. It was great for us. We loved having him with us. That first week alone after losing his Achilles tendon is, in my opinion, so crucial to a man’s confidence.”

Greenlaw participated in scout team representatives and individual drills during practice and showed promising signs of recovery.

“It was a great week and hopefully next week will be even better,” Shanahan added, noting that Greenlaw moved well on the field.

Shanahan explained that while players returning from Achilles tendon injuries may look physically ready, it is crucial to regain confidence in their movements.

“When guys come back, they come back healthy,” Shanahan said. “So, the boys are coming back and they can move, they have fresh legs, they can walk. But it’s about gaining the confidence to react. They have been at full speed for a while before returning to football. But.” When you come back to football, it’s not really the plan to run and stuff like that. You have to react, cover people, back up and immediately stop and explode forward.

“So it’s more about the guys building that confidence because it’s such a traumatic injury, a torn Achilles tendon and stuff. “

Greenlaw will not be activated for Sunday night’s game against the Buffalo Bills. However, Shanahan did not rule out the possibility that the linebacker would play against the Chicago Bears the following week. However, the coach indicated that this was unlikely due to the team’s schedule.

“I think they’re open to it, but also the game after that is a Thursday night game, so I think that makes it a little more difficult,” Shanahan explained. “So we’ll have to see how he feels and stuff. But since these games are so close, that’s also a problem.”

“Well, I’m not going to decide at all now. We’ll see how next week goes, but I would say it would be an outside chance.”

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