49ers activate Dre Greenlaw, and Nick Bosa returns after missing 3 games with injuries

Updated Dec. 12, 2024 7:04 p.m. ET

Associated Press

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The San Francisco 49ers got two key defensive players back with linebacker Dre Greenlaw set to play his first game since tearing his left Achilles tendon in last season's Super Bowl and defensive end Nick Bosa returning after missing three games with injuries to his hip and oblique.

Greenlaw had been practicing the past few weeks and was activated from the physically unable to perform list on Thursday to play against the Los Angeles Rams. San Francisco placed offensive lineman Ben Bartch on injured reserve with an ankle injury to make room on the roster.

Bosa and running back Isaac Guerendo were both active for the game after being listed as questionable. Guerendo left Sunday's win over Chicago with a sprained foot.

Greenlaw was one of the emotional leaders of San Francisco's defense before the freak injury in the first half of the Super Bowl loss to Kansas City. Greenlaw bounced up and down on the sideline and then started to run onto the field with a few teammates when he collapsed, holding his left leg. He was then helped off in a cart.

Greenlaw was drafted in the fifth round in 2019 and emerged as one of the key defenders for San Francisco in 2022. He started 30 games the past two seasons with 247 tackles, eight tackles for loss, 10 passes defensed and three takeaways.

The Niners have missed his intensity and physical play this season, especially against the run.

The Rams and 49ers both promoted players from the practice squad for the game, with Los Angeles adding defensive back Charles Woods and San Francisco promoting running back Ke'Shawn Vaughn.

The inactive players for the 49ers were left tackle Trent Williams (ankle), safety Malik Mustapha (chest, shoulder), running back Israel Abanikanda, cornerback Rock Ya-Sin and defensive tackle Khalil Davis. Joshua Dobbs was the emergency third quarterback.

Cornerback Emmanuel Forbes Jr. was active for the Rams for the first time since being claimed off waivers from Washington. The inactive players for Los Angeles were cornerback Cobie Durant (chest), running back Cody Schrader, linebacker Brennan Jackson and offensive linemen Dylan McMahon and Warren McClendon Jr. Stetson Bennett was the emergency third quarterback.

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