49ers open Fred Warner's practice window
6-year-old with heart defect meets his idols: San Francisco 49ers
6-year-old Walker Farrington, who was born with heart defects, got to meet the 49ers on the field.
SAN FRANCISCO - The San Francisco 49ers are opening the practice window for star linebacker Fred Warner with the hope that he could return if the team reaches the NFC title game.
Warner has been out since breaking and dislocating his right ankle in a loss at Tampa Bay on Oct. 12, with coach Kyle Shanahan initially describing it as a season-ending injury.
But Warner has been rehabbing since then and even was able to run on a side field last week during practice. Now he will be back officially at practice as the 49ers prepare to play Seattle in the divisional round on Saturday night and could return if San Francisco wins.
"We’re not doing much so he’ll walk through out there with us today and things like that, but hoping he can be ready for next week," Shanahan said Tuesday.
49ers eliminate Eagles in thrilling win, turn focus to Seahawks
For San Francisco 49ers fans, Sunday’s game was a nail-biter, but the team managed to knock out the reigning Super Bowl champions and advance.
The 49ers have made it this far despite losing their top two defensive players to injuries early in the season, with defensive end Nick Bosa going down with a season-ending knee injury in Week 3 and Warner getting hurt in Week 6.
Warner has been pushing to make a return and if he can, that would provide a needed boost. But Shanahan said the final decision will be in the hands of the team doctors.
Shanahan underscores medical clearance over emotion
What they're saying:
"If he feels good and tells me he’s good, I’m probably going to think he is and trust him to get out there," Shanahan said. "But you can’t always think with your heart and emotionally. So you ask doctors where he’s at, all the things that these guys have to pass, just protocols that we have in with just sprinting and jumping and things like that. He’s got to hit all those before we feel it’s safe."
But Shanahan added that as soon as the doctors clear Warner "obviously it’ll be zero decision on my part."
Warner had been a first-team All-Pro three straight seasons from 2022-24 and made the squad in 2020. His 947 career tackles are the second most for the team, behind Patrick Willis’ 950, as far as records go back to 2000.
Featured
Erin Andrews nearly breaks the internet with Auter fur coat during NFL 49ers-Eagles game
Erin Andrews, the Emmy-nominated sportscaster for FOX Sports, turned heads Sunday with her stunning Auter fur coat during the NFL's Wild Card playoff game between the 49ers and Eagles.
Warner had missed only one game in his eight-year career before this injury, sitting out in 2021 with a hamstring injury. He played most of last season with a broken bone in his ankle and still earned All-Pro honors.
Warner signed a three-year extension worth $63 million in the offseason, keeping him under contract with the team through the 2029 season.
Other 49er injuries
What we know:
In other injury news, linebacker Dee Winters (ankle), safety Ji’Ayir Brown (hamstring) and Luke Gifford (quadriceps) all would have been unable to practice had the team held a session. Receiver Ricky Pearsall (knee), guard Dominick Puni (ankle) and defensive lineman Keion White (groin, hamstring) all would have been limited.
Shanahan also said tight end George Kittle is set to have surgery on his ruptured Achilles tendon on Wednesday.
The Source: Information for this story comes from the Associated Press.