SAN JOSE — Linebacker Dre Greenlaw is three months into his Achilles recovery and he drew encouragement Thursday night by walking onto the California Theatre stage to receive the Dwight Clark Legacy Award.
Greenlaw is still recovering from surgery on his left Achilles four days after he devastatingly tore it coming off the 49ers’ sideline in Super Bowl LVIII.
“It’s a long, slow process. I’m feeling really good. I’m happy to walk on stage, actually,” Greenlaw said before an audience of about 1,000 who showed to support the Golden Heart Fund benefiting 49ers’ alumni.
”I’m getting my strength and mobility,” Greenlaw added. “I’m doing whatever it takes to get back on the field as soon as possible.”
The 49ers are expected to open training camp in late July with Greenlaw going on the Physically Unable to Perform list, where he likely will remain for the start of the season and thus keep him out the first four games, if not longer until he’s fully healthy.
In a contingency plan to fill in for Greenlaw, the 49ers signed De’Vondre Campbell, formerly of the Green Bay Packers.
Greenlaw played 12 snaps and made three tackles before dropping to the Las Vegas turf in the second quarter, with the 49ers ahead 3-0 in their eventual 25-22 overtime loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
”At first I thought it was an ankle sprain and maybe rolled it,” Greenlaw said. “I remember being on the ground in a lot of pain and trying to tough it out. I tried to walk but there was no pressure out of it.”
A month earlier, Greenlaw sat out the 49ers’ regular-season finale with tightness in his left Achilles tendon. He then secured their playoff-opening win over Green Bay with two interceptions in pure ‘Big Play Dre’ fashion.
Greenlaw’s fifth NFL season had another especially memorable moment: He was ejected from the 49ers’ win at Philadelphia for a sideline confrontation with the Eagles’ director of security.
His expectations for the 49ers’ season are the same as every previous one: “Get back to the Super Bowl and win it. We think we’re the best in the world, and we know we are.”
Fellow linebacker Fred Warner presented Greenlaw with the award named after the late Dwight Clark, who passed away in 2018 after battling ALS.
Warner said of Greenlaw: “On the field, he’s a little crazy. That’s what makes him so great. There’s a little something off with him, but it’s why people connect with him.”
”This award shows not only how much I love football but how much I love my teammates and going out to battle,” Greenlaw added.
The 2 1/2-hour program included introductions of some 20 former players, followed by a conversation between Eric Wright, Ji’Ayir Brown and Renardo Green.
The final hour featured a riveting session with Brock Purdy and former 49ers quarterbacks Steve Young, Jeff Garcia and Alex Smith.
