JUST IN: 49ers LB coach is confident that their key star will come back stronger

Dre Greenlaw is steadily recovering from a torn Achilles, which he described as a “long, long, slow process.” Three months after his fluke, non-contact injury during the Super Bowl loss to the Chiefs, he is now out of a protective boot.

While the aim is for Greenlaw to be ready by Week 1, it is more likely that he will start the season on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list. To address this, the 49ers signed De’Vondre Campbell in the offseason.

49ers linebackers coach Johnny Holland is eager to see Greenlaw return and is confident that the six-year linebacker will come back stronger.

“Dre is always positive,” Holland said, according to David Bonilla of 49erswebzone.com. “Dre always sees the cup as half full rather than half empty, and I have a lot of confidence that he’ll be back at full strength. I don’t know the exact timeframe, but Dre embodies the type of defensive player we want for the 49ers. He’s a violent, physical player and a great teammate. We miss him on the field, but injuries are part of the game, and he’ll overcome this.”