The 49ers anticipated Jon Feliciano again across the midseason level and had designated the veteran offensive lineman for return from IR earlier this month. No activation will happen, nonetheless.
Feliciano’s knee has not responded properly upon a return to apply, Kyle Shanahan stated, and ESPN.com’s Nick Wagoner notes the O-lineman will miss the remainder of the season. Feliciano will revert to season-ending IR, because the 49ers won’t activate him after an IR-return window. Monday marked the 21-day mark because the window opened, forcing the 49ers to make a dedication on Feliciano’s standing.
A starter in seven regular-season video games and all three 49ers playoff contests, Feliciano suffered the knee injury during training camp. The 49ers waited to position him on IR till after setting their 53-man roster, so they won’t lose one among their harm activations by shutting him down. The injury-plagued staff — one which suited up with out Nick Bosa, Trent Williams and Brock Purdy in Week 12 — nonetheless has four IR-return moves remaining. The Purdy-Bosa-Williams trio stays on the lively roster, although Talanoa Hufanga is an IR-return candidate — if the All-Professional security is wholesome sufficient to come back again.
Some good harm information for the 49ers did emerge Monday, nonetheless. As anticipated, the staff is about to open Dre Greenlaw‘s 21-day return window, The Athletic’s Matt Barrows tweets. Greenlaw is set to practice for the first time since tearing an Achilles tendon in Tremendous Bowl LVIII. Greenlaw’s return additionally won’t depend towards the 49ers’ activation complete, as he’s set to enter the PUP-return window.
Feliciano additionally went down throughout Tremendous Bowl LVIII, and whereas his harm could properly have contributed to Chris Jones‘ seminal third-down strain to cease the 49ers’ opening extra time drive, it didn’t result in this season’s absence. The 49ers have additionally discovered a solution at proper guard. They turned to third-round rookie Dominick Puni due partially to Feliciano’s harm, and the Kansas alum has began reverse Aaron Banks all through the season.
Now 32 and in his tenth yr as an NFL blocker, Feliciano had hinted — upon re-signing with the 49ers (on a one-year, $2.75M deal) in March — this would be his final NFL season. It isn’t but identified if the previous Raiders, Payments and Giants inside lineman will change his thoughts based mostly on the knee harm, however he won’t issue into the 49ers’ plans this season. Feliciano, who has made 61 profession begins and spent full seasons at each guard and middle, was more likely to signify strong swing depth had he returned this season.
Greenlaw clearly can be set for a a lot greater function. The longtime Fred Warner sidekick has been a three-down linebacker with San Francisco for years, having signed a two-year, $16.4M extension through the 2022 season. That pact goes by this season’s finish, and Greenlaw will quickly goal to safe a powerful third contract. The 49ers are more likely to slow-play the full-time defender’s ramp-up, however because the 5-6 staff now faces the Payments after dropping a one-sided matchup to the Packers sans Purdy and Co., the chance of the defending NFC champions falling out of the playoff race is all of a sudden actual.
Greenlaw, 27, coming again can profit the 49ers’ protection, and will probably be fascinating to see when the staff decides to activate him. His Tremendous Bowl harm dealt the 49ers a merciless blow, because the participant who was to be a key a part of the staff’s Travis Kelce protection effort stumbled to the turf upon trotting onto the sphere for a first-half defensive possession. Kelce proceeded to catch 9 passes for 93 yards to assist the Chiefs to an extra time conquest.
The 49ers already determined to increase one among their many contract-year starters, giving Deommodore Lenoir
a five-year, $89.8M deal, doing so months after paying Brandon Aiyuk. Greenlaw joins Banks, Hufanga and Charvarius Ward amongst core gamers not contracted for 2025. Though Greenlaw’s sixth NFL season can be abbreviated, a run at full energy over the ultimate month and alter — relying on when the 49ers activate him — would strengthen his 2025 market. The 49ers maintain unique negotiating rights with Greenlaw till the authorized tampering interval begins March 10.
