Fred Warner: The 49ers’ Iron Man Playing Through Pain
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The San Francisco 49ers have been battling injuries all season, with key players like quarterback Brock Purdy, tight end George Kittle, wide receivers Deebo Samuel Sr. and Brandon Aiyuk, and defensive end Nick Bosa all missing time. But one player has been a constant force on the field: linebacker Fred Warner. What fans didn’t know until now is that Warner has been playing through a fractured bone in his ankle since September 29.
Yes, you read that right. Warner revealed on Wednesday that he suffered the injury during a win against the New England Patriots. Despite the pain, he hasn’t missed a single game since, making Sunday night’s matchup against the Buffalo Bills his eighth consecutive game playing with the injury.
“It’s something I deal with every game,” Warner said. “I get on that table before every game and get it shot up every single game just to be able to roll. But it’s not an excuse. It’s just what it is. That’s the NFL. You’re not going to be healthy. You’ve got to go out there, you’ve got to find ways to execute, to play at a high level and to win every single week.”
Warner’s Resilience on Display
Warner initially injured his ankle late in the first half against the Patriots, a game in which he had already racked up seven tackles and an interception returned for a touchdown in just 27 snaps. He didn’t play in the second half but expressed optimism afterward that he’d be fine. True to his word, Warner suited up the following week against the Arizona Cardinals, despite being limited in practice. He finished that game with 12 tackles, including one for a loss.
Since then, Warner has been a full participant in practice leading up to every game, but the injury has undoubtedly taken its toll. Even so, his stats this season are nothing short of impressive: 84 tackles, a sack, four forced fumbles, and two interceptions. Talk about grit!
When asked if the ankle could heal before the season ends, Warner was blunt. “Anytime you fracture a bone, if you just continue to play on it, the bone is usually not going to be able to heal itself,” he said. “So, just got to continue to just fight through.”
Help on the Horizon?
There’s some good news for the 49ers, though. Linebacker Dre Greenlaw, who has missed the first 11 games of the season recovering from a torn left Achilles suffered in the Super Bowl, returned to practice on Wednesday. The team has 21 days to evaluate whether Greenlaw is ready to be activated from the physically unable to perform list.
“It’ll be awesome just having him on the field,” head coach Kyle Shanahan said. “When Dre is around, whether it’s on the field, in meeting rooms, he’s 100% ball. Everyone loves him around here.”
Injury Woes Continue
While Greenlaw’s return is a bright spot, the 49ers are still dealing with a laundry list of injuries. The status of Purdy (right shoulder), Bosa (left hip/oblique), and left tackle Trent Williams (left ankle) remains uncertain as the team prepares for Buffalo. Purdy is expected to be a limited participant in practice, a step up from last week when he was ruled out against the Green Bay Packers. Shanahan said they’ll decide how much Purdy can throw once practice begins.
Williams, meanwhile, was seen in the locker room with his left foot and ankle on a scooter and is not expected to practice. Bosa, however, offered a glimmer of hope, saying he’s made significant progress and could potentially return against the Bills. “It’s feeling a lot better,” Bosa said. “Still need to get better before I’m ready to go, so this week will be big, and I’ll know a lot more in the next couple of days.”
Other Key Injuries
Here’s a quick rundown of other players on the injury report:
- Christian McCaffrey (rest day)
- Aaron Banks (concussion)
- Jordan Elliott (concussion)
- Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (knee)
- Deommodore Lenoir (knee)
Additionally, Dominick Puni (shoulder), Greenlaw (Achilles), and Kevin Givens (groin) will join Purdy as limited participants in practice.
As the 49ers gear up for a crucial game against the Bills, all eyes will be on Warner and his ability to continue leading the defense despite his injury. If his performance so far is any indication, don’t bet against him.
Originally Written by: Nick Wagoner
