Tag: 49ers injured reserve

49ers LB may have played his last game in SF

The 49ers made a pair of Tuesday roster moves.

On Tuesday, the San Francisco 49ers placed linebacker Dre Greenlaw on the injured reserve list.

It officially ends an abbreviated 2024 season for Greenlaw and it could also mean that the 49ers linebacker has played his final snap for San Francisco.

Greenlaw is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason. The sixth-year pro worked hard to return from a torn left Achilles that he suffered in last season’s Super Bowl.

Greenlaw made his 2024 season debut against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 15. The Arkansas alum flashed immediately in his return, tallying eight tackles in just 30 snaps against the Rams.

But, Greenlaw exited midway through that contest against Los Angeles with Achilles and knee soreness. Then, in the ensuing game at Miami, Greenlaw played just four snaps before leaving with a right calf injury.

In his six seasons with San Francisco including the postseason, Greenlaw has appeared in 76 games, recorded 527 tackles, 3.5 sacks, five interceptions, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries and scored one touchdown.

Greenlaw commented on his pending free agency two weeks ago.

“My attitude, honestly, I’m not thinking about all of the free agency stuff. I’m just thinking about three games that I’ve got left with my teammates. At the end of the day, I’m probably going to be a free agent regardless, so I can’t, I’m not trying to rush the process of being a free agent.

“I’ve got three games left to enjoy with Fred and Bosa and Purdy and all those guys. When that time comes, I can’t stop it. I can’t do nothing about it, so all I can do is just enjoy these three games,” Greenlaw said on Dec. 17.

With Greenlaw headed to the IR, the 49ers also made a corresponding roster move.

San Francisco signed offensive lineman Zack Johnson to the team’s practice squad.

Johnson entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Green Bay Packers in 2020.

A native of Apple Valley, Minn., the 27-year-old has spent time on the practice squads of Green Bay (2020-21), Arizona (2021), Denver (2022), Baltimore (2022), Tennessee (2022-23) and Cleveland (2024).

Johnson appeared in one game with the Titans in 2022. The North Dakota State alum also spent the 2023 season with the United Football League’s (UFL) Birmingham Stallions.

49ers activate rookie LB, claim CB off waivers from Titans

Roster moves are a doozy before Monday Night Football.

The San Francisco 49ers on Monday were busy ahead of their Week 17 showdown with the Detroit Lions.

In an expected move, they placed offensive lineman Aaron Banks on IR. Banks is dealing with an MCL injury he suffered in Week 16. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said the starting left guard would miss the final two regular season games. His placement on IR officially ends his season.

Banks, a second-round pick in the 2021 draft, is set to hit free agency in the offseason.

To replace Banks on the roster, the 49ers activated rookie linebacker Tatum Bethune off IR. Bethune had his practice window opened ahead of Week 17 and he was officially listed as ‘questionable’ after undergoing three full practice sessions. All indications point toward the seventh-round pick making his first appearance since Week 11 against the Seattle Seahawks.

Bethune in his rookie season has primarily contributed on special teams, playing 130 special teams snaps and only eight defensive snaps. He has two tackles and one fumble recovery in nine games.

The 49ers also announced they claimed cornerback Tre Avery off waivers from the Tennessee Titans. Avery was an undrafted rookie for Tennessee after the 2022 draft. He played in 38 games with five starts across his two-plus seasons in Tennessee. Avery has 54 tackles, 11 pass breakups and one fumble recovery in his career. The Titans waived Avery leading up to their Week 17 game. He’ll provide special teams depth with some players roles changing while CB Charvarius Ward is absent for a personal matter.

San Francisco elevated defensive lineman Alex Barrett from the practice squad for the second time this season. He adds depth with defensive end Robert Beal out because of an ankle injury. Undrafted rookie offensive lineman Drake Nugent is also up from the practice squad in what will be his regular season debut.

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