After a difficult season -- one in which his teammates said most players wouldn't have even been able to stay on the field as much as he had -- San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw's leg gave out at the most devastating of moments.

As Greenlaw prepared to run back onto the field for another Niners defensive series with 9:26 left in the second quarter of Sunday's 25-22 Super Bowl LVIII overtime loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, he injured his left leg. Coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed after the game that Greenlaw tore his Achilles tendon, Nick Wagoner of ESPN reports.

Fellow San Francisco linebacker Fred Warner reacted in anger upon seeing Greenlaw hurt. Defensive end Nick Bosa watched in stunned silence as Greenlaw hobbled the few feet to the sideline, where medical staff began treating him. Moments later, a teary-eyed Greenlaw was taken to the locker room on a cart.

"It was hard. Sometimes when things like that happen, it could sway the momentum just because it's such an emotional feeling," Bosa said. "Dre is a one-of-one human being. He was pushing through so much this year, and I think 99% of players wouldn't have been able to do what he did. He put his body on the line for this, and it sucks we couldn't get him [a win]."

As often happens with Achilles injuries, Greenlaw's came without contact and at the most inopportune of times. The Niners had just punted the ball back to the Chiefs before Greenlaw and his defensive teammates were about to go back on the field.

Greenlaw was able to stand and limp to the sideline, but he and the Niners seemed to have a pretty good idea of what had just happened.

The 49ers initially said Greenlaw was questionable to return, but he was soon ruled out.

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