Linebacker Dre Greenlaw is dealing with a quadriceps injury, while defensive end Keion White is working through a hamstring issue.
Shanahan joined Bay Area radio station KNBR on Thursday and explained why both veterans are among the players who can afford to miss practice during the week and still be ready to play Sunday.
"I'll go back to Dre—he didn't play 16 weeks in a row and barely practiced in Week 17 when we needed to beat the Rams to get into the playoffs," Shanahan said.
Shanahan was referring to the 2021 season. Greenlaw didn't actually miss 16 consecutive weeks, but the coach wasn't far off. Greenlaw played in Week 1, Week 12, and Week 17, meaning he missed 14 of the 15 games between the opener and the finale.
In that regular-season finale against the Los Angeles Rams, Greenlaw recorded 12 tackles and a quarterback hit during the 49ers' 27-24 overtime victory.
"It was maybe the best game I've ever seen by a linebacker," Shanahan added.
With injuries continuing to impact the 49ers' defensive front, San Francisco could certainly use White in the lineup this weekend. He is the only player on the team with multiple sacks this season.
"Keion's been here for now—he was half of last year and these three games, and we've been pumped with how Keion's been playing," Shanahan said. "Hopefully, he'll be good by Sunday, but definitely don't want to risk it these two days and him getting a setback and making it worse."
The 49ers will release their final injury report Friday, which should provide a clearer indication of Greenlaw and White's statuses ahead of Sunday's matchup against Denver.
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