Fred Warner isn’t just the heart of the 49ers' defense - he’s the pulse. And after suffering a dislocated and broken right ankle in Week 6 against the Buccaneers, it looked like that pulse might be silenced for the rest of the season. But here we are, late December, and Warner just cracked the door open to a potential return.
“I’ve got a chance,” Warner told NBC ahead of San Francisco’s Week 17 Sunday night clash with the Bears. “That’s the plan, so we’re going to take this thing one day at a time. There’s a whole lot of different steps, and Ts got to be crossed, Is got to be dotted in order to get there, but we’re on the right track.”
That’s not just optimism - that’s a competitor who’s been here before and knows what it takes to get back.
NBC’s broadcast added a little more fuel to the fire, reporting that Warner is eyeing a potential return for the NFC Championship Game. That’s just under a month away, with the conference title games set for Jan.
- And if the 49ers can punch their ticket to Super Bowl LX - which, fittingly, will be played at Levi’s Stadium on Feb. 8 - the door might swing even wider for Warner to suit up.
Now, let’s be clear: even if Warner makes it back, it won’t be as the every-down enforcer we’re used to. Reports indicate that any return would likely come in a limited role - spot duty, situational packages, maybe even just a few key third downs. But for a player like Warner, whose instincts and leadership are as valuable as his physical presence, even a handful of snaps could be game-changing.
This is uncharted territory for Warner, who’s been one of the most durable players in the league since entering the NFL in 2018. Before this year, the All-Pro linebacker had only missed one game due to injury - back in 2021 - and even played through a fractured ankle last season.
This current injury required surgery on Oct. 14, with an estimated recovery timeline of 4-6 months. If he does return in January or early February, he’ll be pushing the low end of that window.
The 49ers, meanwhile, are doing their part to keep the season alive long enough for Warner to have a shot. Sunday night’s 42-38 win over the Bears was a thriller - the kind of game that reminds you why this team is dangerous when it matters most.
Brock Purdy tossed five touchdowns, including a clutch 38-yarder to Jauan Jennings with just over two minutes left to reclaim the lead. Chicago nearly answered, but Caleb Williams’ final pass from the 2-yard line fell incomplete as time expired.
That win kept San Francisco’s hopes for the NFC’s top seed very much alive. They entered Week 17 as the No. 5 seed, but with the right results and a strong finish, they could still lock up home-field advantage and a first-round bye.
Step one is already in the books. Step two?
A showdown with the Seahawks this Saturday at Levi’s Stadium. The stakes couldn’t be higher - the winner not only takes the NFC West crown but also secures the No. 1 seed.
And if the 49ers do earn that bye, that’s another week of rest for Warner. Another week of rehab. Another week closer to a return that once seemed impossible.
General manager John Lynch, speaking on KNBR radio this week, didn’t rule anything out. “I think it’s a thing that will remain to be seen,” Lynch said. “But I know he’s putting his heart and soul and his incredible work ethic to work every single day in an effort to do that.”
That work ethic has never been in question. Warner’s been the emotional engine of this team for years, and even as he was carted off the field back in Week 6, he kept that mindset intact.
“Everything happens for a reason,” he said recently on The Ryen Russillo Show. “God has a plan.
I was telling guys that as I’m getting carted off and they’re feeling sorry for me - like, ‘I’ll be good.’”
Now, with the playoffs looming and the 49ers surging, the idea of Warner returning isn’t just a feel-good story - it could be a real factor in how this postseason shakes out.
One day at a time. One game at a time. And maybe, just maybe, one more shot for Fred Warner to lead this team where they’ve been trying to go since he got here.