The San Francisco 49ers activated linebacker Dre Greenlaw to play against the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night for his first action since tearing his left Achilles tendon in last season’s Super Bowl.
Greenlaw had been practicing in recent weeks and was activated from the physically unable to perform list on Thursday. San Francisco placed offensive lineman Ben Batch on injured reserve with an ankle injury to make room on the roster.
Greenlaw was one of the emotional leaders of San Francisco’s defense before the bizarre injury in the first half of the Super Bowl loss to Kansas City. Greenlaw bounced up and down the sideline and then started running onto the field with some teammates when he collapsed while holding his left leg. He was then helped away into a cart.
Greenlaw was drafted in the fifth round in 2019 and emerged as one of San Francisco’s top defenders in 2022. He started 30 games over the past two seasons with 247 tackles, eight tackles for loss, 10 passes defensed and three takeaways.
The Niners have missed his intensity and physical play this season, especially against the run.
The Rams and 49ers both promoted players from the practice squad before the game, with Los Angeles adding defensive back Charles Woods and San Francisco promoting running back Ke’Shawn Vaughn.
