San Francisco 49ers star linebacker Dre Greenlaw suffered a freak non-contact injury, apparently injuring his Achilles tendon while celebrating on the sideline, and missed Super Bowl LVIII. He will not be able to participate in the remaining games.

Greenlaw ran back onto the field from the sideline and fell, carting him off the field.

Dre Greenlaw appears to have been injured jogging back onto the field. pic.twitter.com/p3nwmTUsfO

— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) February 12, 2024

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Greenlaw was ruled out immediately after the incident due to an Achilles tendon injury.

49ers LB Dre Greenlaw was ruled out due to an Achilles tendon injury. pic.twitter.com/YNGx3DTXSe

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 12, 2024

This is a big blow to San Francisco's defense, which combines Greenlaw with stud middle linebacker Fred Warner to form perhaps the NFL's best linebacking duo. (Related article: 'Keep Me In!': Travis Kelce furious at coach Andy Reid after costly Chiefs failure)

This is one of the strangest injuries I've seen in over 20 years of watching sports. Greenlaw was jumping up and down, but suddenly his Achilles tendon felt like it was going to snap. His feet buckle and he hits the ground hard.

How heartbreaking to be left out of the biggest game of your career. Greenlaw played in the Niners' last Super Bowl in 2019, but he was never as active a part of the team as he was this year.

I hope that whatever injury this big-time player suffers will be healed before the start of next season.