49ers’ best linebacker trio finally back together again for TNF vs. Rams

It could be too late, but it appears as though the 49ers may finally have got their three best linebackers on the field.

After activating Dre Greenlaw in the hours leading up to tonight’s Thursday Night Football game against the Rams, the 49ers have followed with a corresponding change in the starting lineup.

Per Matt Barrows of The Athletic, Greenlaw did get the start tonight next to Fred Warner, but Dee Winters also retains his place in the starting lineup, following a recent increase in snaps over fellow linebacker De’Vondre Campbell.

It’s great to see Greenlaw back, of course, and it will be interesting to see how he handles his first on-field action in ten months (since the incredibly unlucky achilles tear during February’s Super Bowl loss to the Kansas City Chiefs). It’s hard not to imagine that his return might give a middling defensive unit a little spark.

However, the bigger news may be at the third spot, as ascending youngster Winters finally gets the starting spot over the veteran Campbell.

It’s fair to say that this is long, long overdue.

Campbell has consistently failed to impress since joining on a one-year deal in free agency, showing a lack of foot speed and a glaring weakness in particular in pass coverage.

The 49ers linebacking group has played its best football when it’s been able to mix strong flashes against the run with the ability to take away the intermediate pass game, and while it was originally thought Campbell could soften the blow from the loss of Greenlaw in that area, this hasn’t proven to be the case.

Of course, Winters has been held back by injury—his sprained ankle has caused him problems on multiple occasions throughout the year— but it’s still a pleasure to see him getting more snaps.

It possibly also points to the 49ers looking to a future beyond this season at the linebacking spot too – Campbell and Greenlaw are both on expiring deals, and given that Greenlaw has missed most of the season due to injury, it’s easy to imagine the 49ers looking at possible reinforcements long term.

Either way, it’s good news for the team to have it’s three best athletes and players out there tonight for the crucial Thursday Night Football clash with the Los Angeles Rams – particularly as the team needs to win it to stay in the playoff hunt.

Hopefully, that group holds together for the rest of the season, and can lead the 49ers through the remainder of 2024, and possibly into next season as well.

We’ll not speculate on the post-season just yet – but maybe with Greenlaw and Winters in situ, the 49ers chances might just have gone up.