Dre Greenlaw Faces Long Road to Recovery After Super Bowl Achilles Injury

After the San Francisco 49ers' bitter defeat in Super Bowl LVIII, player Dre Greenlaw not only experienced the typical anguish of defeat but also sustained a significant Achilles injury that will delay the start of his 2024 campaign.

A Sudden Injury

During the game, just 12 defensive plays into the Super Bowl, Greenlaw suffered the injury while waiting to join the rest of the 49ers defense on the field. This non-contact injury, described as a freak occurrence, turned out to be a devastating blow for Greenlaw, as he was forced to undergo surgery and is now facing a lengthy recovery period.

Emotional Impact

The injury left Greenlaw with a mix of emotions, as he recalled the moment, saying, "Sometimes you get a little flashback and shed a couple of tears thinking about it." He expressed the frustration of being so close to the pinnacle of success but unable to compete due to the injury.

Recovery and Rehabilitation

Greenlaw had been dealing with Achilles issues before the Super Bowl, having sat out the finale in Week 18 due to a right Achilles injury. He noted that he had initially mistaken the location of the injury, thinking it was on his right Achilles when it was actually his left. Greenlaw mentioned that the issues with his right Achilles may have led to the injury on his left leg, ultimately requiring surgery four days after the Super Bowl.

As he looks to the future, Greenlaw indicated that he would listen to his body to determine when he can return to the field. However, 49ers GM John Lynch anticipates that Greenlaw will begin the 2024 season on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list, which will likely keep him out for the first four games of the year.