On Thursday, San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan announced that linebacker Dre Greenlaw will miss the team's final two games. Greenlaw, who recently returned from an Achilles injury, has been dealing with lingering soreness after playing in the last two games. As a precaution, the 49ers have decided to shut him down for the remainder of the season.
In response, the 49ers have opened the practice window for rookie linebacker Tatum Bethune.
The San Francisco 49ers today announced they have opened the practice window for LB Tatum Bethune (Injured Reserve List).
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) December 26, 2024
Typically, this move initiates a 21-day period for the team to activate Bethune off injured reserve. However, with only two games left in the season, it's unclear if Bethune will be activated in time for Monday night's matchup against the Detroit Lions. The decision could simply be an opportunity for the young defender to earn additional practice reps before the offseason.
The 49ers selected Bethune in the seventh round of April's draft. This season, he has played just eight defensive snaps, recording two tackles and a fumble recovery, but he has more on special teams, logging 130 snaps.
Bethune was placed on injured reserve on November 23 with a knee injury.