49ers LB Greenlaw suffers serious leg injury running onto Super Bowl field
LAS VEGAS — The 49ers lost a key defender to a freak injury in the first half of Super Bowl LVIII.
Linebacker Dre Greenlaw, the physical complement to Fred Warner in the middle of San Francisco’s defense, was carted off the field during the second quarter. Greenlaw appeared to injure his leg while jogging out onto the field.
Greenlaw was initially listed as questionable to return with an Achilles injury, but was later downgraded to out before halftime.
Greenlaw could be seen lying down on the sideline after suffering the injury and shortly after rode the medical cart back to the 49ers’ locker room.
Dre Greenlaw appeared to injure himself jogging back onto the field pic.twitter.com/p3nwmTUsfO
— NFL on CBS (@NFLonCBS) February 12, 2024
Greenlaw, 26, has been a standout for San Francisco when healthy. Against Green Bay in the NFC divisional round, he snagged two interceptions to help the 49ers come back to beat the Packers, including the game-sealing pick.
Against the Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII, Greenlaw combined on three tackles. When he left the game, San Francisco had earned a 3-0 lead.
He was clearly amped up for the Super Bowl stage, demonstrating his intensity by celebrating after each tackle he made. Greenlaw had moved up to fourth all-time in franchise history for postseason tackles with 71, passing Pro Football Hall of Famer Patrick Willis.
This story was updated to reflect Greenlaw’s availability to return.