{"id":18877,"date":"2024-11-25T22:19:54","date_gmt":"2024-11-25T22:19:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gpt.m2mbeta.com\/?p=18877"},"modified":"2024-11-25T22:19:54","modified_gmt":"2024-11-25T22:19:54","slug":"49ers-ol-jon-feliciano-to-land-on-season-ending-ir-dre-greenlaw-to-practice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gpt.m2mbeta.com\/?p=18877","title":{"rendered":"49ers OL Jon Feliciano To Land On Season-Ending IR; Dre Greenlaw To Practice"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The 49ers expected Jon Feliciano<\/a><\/strong> back around the midseason point and had designated the veteran offensive lineman for return from IR earlier this month. No activation will take place, however.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Feliciano\u2019s knee has not responded well upon a return to practice, Kyle Shanahan<\/strong> said, and ESPN.com\u2019s Nick Wagoner notes<\/a> the O-lineman will miss the rest of the season. Feliciano will revert to season-ending IR, as the 49ers will not activate him after an IR-return window. Monday marked the 21-day mark since the window opened, forcing the 49ers to make a determination on Feliciano\u2019s status.<\/p>\n

[RELATED: <\/strong><\/a>Brock Purdy<\/a><\/strong> In Play To Suit Up In Week 13]<\/strong><\/p>\n

A starter in seven regular-season games and all three 49ers playoff contests, Feliciano suffered the knee injury during training camp<\/a>. The 49ers waited to place him on IR until after setting their 53-man roster, so they will not lose one of their injury activations by shutting him down. The injury-plagued team \u2014 one that suited up without Nick Bosa<\/a><\/strong>, Trent Williams<\/a><\/strong> and Brock Purdy<\/a><\/strong> in Week 12 \u2014 still has four IR-return moves remaining<\/a>. The Purdy-Bosa-Williams trio remains on the active roster, though Talanoa Hufanga<\/a><\/strong> is an IR-return candidate \u2014 if the All-Pro safety is healthy enough to come back.<\/p>\n

Some good injury news for the 49ers did emerge Monday, however. As expected, the team is set to open Dre Greenlaw<\/a><\/strong>\u2018s 21-day return window, The Athletic\u2019s Matt Barrows tweets<\/a>. Greenlaw is set to practice for the first time<\/a> since tearing an Achilles tendon in Super Bowl LVIII. Greenlaw\u2019s return also will not count against the 49ers\u2019 activation total, as he is set to enter the PUP-return window.<\/p>\n

Feliciano also went down during Super Bowl LVIII, and while his injury may well have contributed to Chris Jones<\/a><\/strong>\u2018 seminal third-down pressure to stop the 49ers\u2019 opening overtime drive, it did not lead to this season\u2019s absence. The 49ers have also found an answer at right guard. They turned to third-round rookie Dominick Puni<\/a><\/strong> due in part to Feliciano\u2019s injury, and the Kansas alum has started opposite Aaron Banks<\/a><\/strong> throughout the season.<\/p>\n

Now 32 and in his 10th year as an NFL blocker, Feliciano had hinted \u2014 upon re-signing with the 49ers (on a one-year, $2.75MM deal) in March \u2014 this would be his final NFL season<\/a>. It is not yet known if the former Raiders, Bills and Giants interior lineman will change his mind based on the knee injury, but he will not factor into the 49ers\u2019 plans this season. Feliciano, who has made 61 career starts and spent full seasons at both guard and center, was likely to represent solid swing depth had he returned this season.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Greenlaw obviously will be set for a much bigger role. The longtime Fred Warner<\/a><\/strong> sidekick has been a three-down linebacker with San Francisco for years, having signed a two-year, $16.4MM extension during the 2022 season. That pact goes through this season\u2019s end, and Greenlaw will soon aim to secure a strong third contract. The 49ers are likely to slow-play the full-time defender\u2019s ramp-up, but as the 5-6 team now faces the Bills after dropping a one-sided matchup to the Packers sans Purdy and Co., the risk of the defending NFC champions falling out of the playoff race is suddenly real.<\/p>\n

Greenlaw, 27, coming back can benefit the 49ers\u2019 defense, and it will be interesting to see when the team decides to activate him. His Super Bowl injury dealt the 49ers a cruel blow, as the player who was to be a key part of the team\u2019s Travis Kelce<\/a><\/strong> defense effort stumbled to the turf upon trotting onto the field for a first-half defensive possession. Kelce proceeded to catch nine passes for 93 yards to help the Chiefs to an overtime conquest.<\/p>\n

The 49ers already decided to extend one of their many contract-year starters, giving Deommodore Lenoir<\/a><\/strong> a five-year, $89.8MM deal<\/a>, doing so months after paying Brandon Aiyuk<\/a><\/strong>. Greenlaw joins Banks, Hufanga and Charvarius Ward<\/a><\/strong> among core players not contracted for 2025. Although Greenlaw\u2019s sixth NFL season will be abbreviated, a run at full strength over the final month and change \u2014 depending on when the 49ers activate him \u2014 would strengthen his 2025 market. The 49ers hold exclusive negotiating rights with Greenlaw until the legal tampering period begins March 10.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n