Shanahan explains why Greenlaw makes ‘simulated plays’ at 49ers practice originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Dr. Greenlawincluding the three-week window to return to action was opened Mondayparticipated in simulated games during 49ers practice Wednesday.
Kyle Shanahan, San Francisco coach On Wednesday, he detailed Greenlaw’s “mock games” with reporters and discussed the star linebacker’s recovery from the torn Achilles he suffered against the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII.
“I haven’t watched it or anything, but I mean, that’s what all of our guys that are on IR go through,” Shanahan said, “like [safety Talanoa Hufanga] Huf is doing this this week. You’re just not allowed to be around coaches or anything like that until you open their window. So they don’t like that their first time, they’re doing real soccer drills and all that.
This seems pretty standard.
49ers President of Football Operations John Lynch also discussed these “mock practices” with KNBR’s Brian Murphy and Markus Boucher on Tuesday and said San Francisco is bringing Greenlaw back into the mix.
The 49ers want to be careful with Greenlaw. He is an integral part of the defense and is the missing half of his teammate and fellow superstar. inside linebacker Fred Warner.
Shanahan then shared more about Greenlaw’s ramp-up timeline, which is typical for most players returning from long periods of injury.
“So when they go out on their own with their practice squad, they’re doing less rehab and doing more of what they would do individually, a coach guiding them through that, doing the reps of what they do in practice “, Shanahan added. “They’re trying to have a normal week of practice so they can get their yards, all their exits and entries, whatever it is, for GPS and everything they do in a normal practice on Wednesday to see how sore they are on Thursday.
“Then they do the same thing on Thursday to see how sore they are on Friday. Then they try to practice on Sunday to see that. And they do that and then we open their window and then they have three weeks to go through it before we can make a decision.
Lynch added Tuesday that “I think that’s the expectation,” regarding how Greenlaw would play during the 2024 NFL season.
Over his final two seasons, Greenlaw had 247 tackles and 14 passes defensed. His upcoming return speaks not only to the fifth-year veteran’s determination, but also a glimmer of promise for the struggling 49ers.
Hopefully for San Francisco, Greenlaw’s simulated games will turn into real games soon.
