Fred Warner is back in the mix - and just in time for the 49ers.
After three months on the shelf with a fractured and dislocated right ankle, the All-Pro linebacker is inching closer to a return. The 49ers officially opened Warner’s 21-day practice window on Tuesday, signaling their intent to get him back on the field, potentially as soon as Saturday night’s divisional-round showdown against the Seattle Seahawks.
And while the original plan may have been to target the NFC Championship Game for his return, Warner isn’t ruling anything out - not even this weekend.
“Just so grateful, blessed to be back,” Warner told reporters on Wednesday. “When all this happened, I didn’t really think about the possibility of returning in-season. But the way things progressed and being able to have this opportunity to be back with my teammates and have a chance at helping them win this week and so on and so forth, that’s my only goal going forward.”
That’s the kind of mindset you expect from a guy who’s been the heart of San Francisco’s defense since he entered the league.
Warner was a limited participant in practice on both Tuesday and Wednesday, and while he still has a few medical hurdles to clear before getting the green light, his presence alone is already making waves. He was seen breaking down the pre-practice huddle and dapping up his fellow linebackers like he never left. The 49ers will practice again Thursday before heading to Seattle on Friday.
If he does suit up, it’ll be his first game action since October 12. Warner was limited to just six games during the regular season and missed last week’s wild-card win over the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles. In his place, veteran Eric Kendricks stepped in, promoted from the practice squad to start at middle linebacker.
But let’s be honest: there’s no replacing Fred Warner.
He’s not just a tackling machine - though 948 career tackles in 121 starts certainly speak for themselves - he’s the engine that drives this defense. He’s the communicator, the tone-setter, the guy who makes sure everyone’s in the right spot before the snap. And when he’s flying around the field, the energy is different.
“Just pure energy,” said defensive coordinator Robert Saleh. “Fred is the ultimate energy giver, so just having him out there is awesome.”
That energy will be even more crucial now, especially with the loss of tight end George Kittle, who tore his right Achilles in last week’s game in Philly. Kittle’s absence is a gut punch, no doubt. But Warner’s potential return softens the blow - and then some.
Since being drafted in the third round back in 2018, Warner has built a résumé that puts him among the elite at his position: 17 forced fumbles, 10 sacks, 10 interceptions, and a reputation for being one of the smartest, most instinctive linebackers in the game. He’s also got 12 playoff starts under his belt, including two trips to the Super Bowl - both losses to Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs.
Now, he’s trying to help San Francisco get back to the big stage. And if he’s back on the field Saturday night, the 49ers’ defense gets a whole lot scarier.