Rams touchdown reveals just how much 49ers miss Dre Greenlaw

The 49ers can't wait to get Dre Greenlaw back from injury, and this Rams score in Week 3 revealed why this is so crucial.

The San Francisco 49ers won't rush injured star linebacker Dre Greenlaw back onto the field after he suffered a devastating Achilles tear during the Super Bowl last February.

But they sure wish they could.

Greenlaw, who began 2024 on injured reserve, doesn't have a known timetable for his return. To mitigate his known absence, the Niners inked veteran linebacker De'Vondre Campbell, who was a first-team All-Pro with the Green Bay Packers back in 2021.

Unfortunately for San Francisco, that caliber of play wasn't quite up to snuff in Week 3 against the Los Angeles Rams.

Despite taking an early 14-0 lead, LA clawed back into the game with a lengthy possession near the end of the second quarter and capped off the drive with a 15-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Matthew Stafford to running back Kyren Williams:

While Williams' front flip was actually kind of cool, go back and watch the clip with Campbell on the weak side of the formation.

Williams makes Campbell look flat-footed, beating his man easily and leaving safety Talanoa Hufanga in a less-than-ideal situation, trying to make a tackle at the goal line.

Greenlaw, known for his pass-coverage skills, likely wouldn't have allowed such a clean break. Campbell, known more for his run-stopping prowess, looked more like a liability.

And it's probably to Los Angeles' benefit, as long as the 49ers continue to put the veteran out on the field in Greenlaw's absence.

Of note, at one point earlier in the game, Campbell came off the field in favor of second-year pro linebacker Dee Winters, who excelled during the preseason and seemed to have a shot to overtake the former on the depth chart.

However, Winters exited with an ankle injury and is questionable to return.

That'll likely leave Campbell out on the field, and the Niners have to figure out ways to cover up his deficiencies.

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