The Los Angeles Rams are set to take on their NFC West rival on Thursday Night Football, but now with a surprise addition to the San Francisco 49ers defense. It was reported today that the 49ers would activate Dre Greenlaw ahead of the TNF game.
Greenlaw tore his Achilles last February while on the sidelines during Super Bowl LVIII and will make his first appearance on San Francisco’s active roster this season.
49ers Activating LB Greenlaw Against The Rams
Greenlaw has had some of the best games of his career against the Rams combining double-digit tackles in each of his last three appearances against the team. His October 3rd, 2022 game against the Rams is tied for the most single-game tackles in his career Furthermore, it was revealed last week that fellow 49ers linebacker, Fred Warner, has been playing much of the season on a broken ankle, relying on pain management to step onto the field.
His return will be a step toward improving the 49ers’ 28th-ranked run defense, but the reporting also suggests the team will ease him back into the fold.
While the big story of last Sunday’s Rams’ win against the Buffalo Bills was how well Matthew Stafford played, the true difference maker was Kyren Williams and the running game, which opened up opportunities in the passing game.
While Greenlaw wasn’t the 49ers best run denfer last season, he was a great complement to Warner, who is among the league’s most elite run defenders. This season, Warner has taken a step back, most likely due to outside forces, but his linebacking colleagues have not close to Greenlaw against the run.
If the 49ers run defense is just good enough to gum up the works for Williams, the Rams offense will have a harder time operating in other fasects as well.
