The 49ers are not losing hope that linebacker Dre Greenlaw, who injured his Achilles tendon in a devastating injury during the Super Bowl, but they believe he will recover and be able to play next year. They are unsure when that will happen, so they signed a former All-Pro linebacker who the 49ers have been interested in for a long time.
The guy: Eric Kendricks, who was recently a captain with the Chargers.
The news of Kendricks’ signing was reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who tweeted/X: “49ers are signing former Chargers LB Eric Kendricks to a one-year deal, according to a source. Kendricks was a Chargers captain last season, starting 14 games and finishing second on the team with 117 tackles.”
New 49ers LB Eric Kendricks is expected to try to help replace Dre Greenlaw, who tore his Achilles during the Super Bowl. https://t.co/NfBUIPT0c6
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 13, 2024
Schefter also mentioned that the Greenlaw injury led to signing Kendricks. The 49ers are pleased with the Greenlaw-Fred Warner duo at middle linebacker, but the possibility of not having Greenlaw made the Kendricks signing necessary.
Eric Kendricks Was a 2019 All-Pro
Kendricks has been a consistent performer throughout his nine seasons (eight with Minnesota) and has exceeded 100 tackles for eight consecutive years. He had his best season in 2019, excelling in coverage with 12 passes defended, and was recognized as both an All-Pro and a Pro Bowler.
There was talk that he might go to Dallas, reuniting with his former coach, ex-Vikings coach Mike Zimmer, but instead, Kendricks comes to San Francisco. He will reunite with former Chargers coach Brandon Staley, who is now a defensive assistant for the 49ers.
As noted by Pro Football Focus on Twitter/X, Kendricks has been one of the most reliable linebackers in the league over the last four seasons. The website shared, “Eric Kendricks: 72.1 PFF Grade since 2020, ranking 13th among all LBs during that period.”
49ers Cautious on Dre Greenlaw Injury
Kendricks is part of a subtle defensive revamp by the 49ers in recent days. The mainstays of the defense remain, but Arik Armstead, Clelin Ferrell, and Chase Young have departed, with edge rushers Yetur Gross-Matos and Leonard Floyd arriving, along with interior lineman Jordan Elliott from the Browns.
Taking injuries into account, it could be argued that the 49ers have upgraded at every position with those moves.
Now Kendricks has joined the team, not as an improvement, but as a safety net while Greenlaw is recovering. Greenlaw sustained his severe Achilles injury while simply returning to the field after a 49ers punt with 9:26 left in the half of the Super Bowl. He awkwardly fell as he began to run out, making it one of the more unusual injuries in Super Bowl history.
It is possible that Greenlaw might miss the entire 2024 season. He could also be ready by September. This is why the 49ers needed to bring in Kendricks.
GM John Lynch discussed the uncertainty surrounding Greenlaw earlier this month.
“Achilles injuries take some time, you know?” he told NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco. “So you’ve got to respect that. Now, having said that, I know that Dre, he’s a special athlete. Those guys tend to heal faster, but I think with an Achilles, there’s just a timeline that you kind of have to give it. You can be ultra-aggressive.
“You also need to be intelligent. And we will do so.”
