Fred Warner isn’t just walking again - he’s attacking his rehab with the same intensity and focus that’s made him the heartbeat of the 49ers’ defense. After suffering a fractured and dislocated right ankle that ended his season prematurely, Warner is now back on his feet, quite literally, and making real strides toward recovery.
In a recent appearance on Real Ones: The League podcast, Warner gave fans an inside look at his rehab process - and the news is encouraging.
“We are in an amazing spot,” Warner said. “I'm fully back to being on my 10 toes, back to being on my feet, walking around again, and it's the best feeling in the world.”
That might not sound groundbreaking on paper, but for a guy who spent over six weeks scootering around in a boot, it’s a massive step - both physically and mentally. Warner detailed the grind of the early stages: six weeks non-weight-bearing, followed by a two-week ramp-up just to get back to walking.
That’s not just about healing bones; it’s about retraining your body to move again after surgery and inactivity. And Warner, as always, is sticking to the plan.
“You can’t speed that up, unfortunately,” he said. “You’ve got to listen to what [the doctors] say or else you’re going to set things back.”
Now, that boot is off. The scooter is gone. And Warner is back on the field - not in pads, but in spirit - moving around during pregame, hyping up his teammates, and doing what leaders do.
But he’s not just walking. He’s working.
Warner has progressed to strength training, and he’s starting to look like a guy on the comeback trail rather than someone shut down for the season. He’s transitioned from the training room to the weight room, and the focus now is rebuilding ankle strength and mobility.
“Things have progressed now to where I'm out of the training room in terms of doing all my rehab stuff,” Warner said. “I'll get in, I'll do the underwater treadmill to get things loosened up and then we're out to the weight room.
We're getting the lifts in now - upper- and lower-body stuff. It’s all about getting that range of motion back in the ankle and building strength within that range.”
He’s even doing light field work - sled pushes, sled walks - all signs that his rehab isn’t just on schedule, it’s trending upward. And while he’s not putting a timetable on a return, he’s definitely not closing the door on one either.
“I hear all the chatter around the internet and everywhere asking, ‘Is Fred going to make it back for the playoffs?’” he said.
“Hey, I guess time will tell. Never say never.
We shall see.”
It’s the kind of quote that gets fans buzzing - and for good reason. Warner is the emotional and tactical anchor of San Francisco’s defense. Even the idea of him returning late in the postseason - no matter how unlikely - is enough to energize a locker room and a fanbase.
Of course, before any of that becomes a real conversation, the 49ers (9-4) have business to take care of. They’ll need to clinch a playoff spot - something that could happen as soon as this weekend if they take care of business against the Titans at Levi’s Stadium.
From there, it’s a matter of surviving and advancing. The deeper they go, the more realistic a Warner return becomes.
For now, the focus is on the present - both for the team and for Warner. He’s putting in the work, day by day, rep by rep. And while no one’s making any promises, one thing is clear: Fred Warner is doing everything in his power to make the impossible feel just a little more possible.