Tag: fred warner

49ers LB Fred Warner questionable vs. Washington with neck injury

San Francisco 49ers LB Fred Warner is questionable to return after suffering a neck/shoulder injury early in the second half vs. Washington.

The 49ers can’t catch a break on the injury front. Linebacker Fred Warner took a shot early in the third quarter Sunday vs. Washington and was evaluated for a concussion. He got cleared of a head injury, but he’s still questionable to return with a neck/shoulder injury

Warner stuck his nose in against Washington RB Payton Barber. The play looked relatively innocuous, but he went down holding his neck area. He was taken to the blue medical tent to be evaluated.

He had five tackles when he exited. Demetrius Flanningan-Fowles entered the game for him.

WATCH: 49ers force fumble, score touchdown

San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner forced a fumble and setup quarterback Nick Mullens to complete a touchdown pass to Brandon Aiyuk.

After their offense got stopped by the Buffalo Bills at the goal line, the San Francisco 49ers defense responded by forcing an immediate turnover. Bills running back Zack Moss mishandled a hand-off from quarterback Josh Allen and linebacker Fred Warner jumped on the ball. 49ers quarterback Nick Mullens quickly took advantage, completing a touchdown pass to wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk to give San Francisco an early 7-0 lead.

49ers LB Fred Warner should be a household name

San Francisco 49ers LB Fred Warner is still underrated. That shouldn’t be the case for much longer.

49ers linebacker Fred Warner is a star in every sense, except that he’s not quite reached the ‘household name’ level yet. He should be there soon though.

Warner, a third-round pick from BYU in the 2018 draft, almost immediately took over the starting Mike linebacker spot for San Francisco upon arriving at the facility. The team was so confident in Warner’s abilities as a rookie they assigned him the role of relaying plays in from the defensive coordinator.

San Francisco was an abysmal 4-12 club during Warner’s strong rookie season though and Warner didn’t get a ton of attention.

Last year the 49ers boasted one of the NFL’s best defenses, but the defensive line was the star. Warner was excellent, but he was overshadowed by that defensive front. Now he’s taken his game to a new level, but San Francisco’s injury-ravaged season has pushed them, and Warner, out of the national conversation.

In fact, Warner landed on Doug Farrar’s list of the NFL’s most underrated defensive players at the Touchdown Wire. Here’s Farrar on the 49ers’ third-year linebacker:

Warner has been a key cog in San Francisco’s defense since his rookie season of 2018, but he’s played at his best in 2020 despite injuries all around him. He hasn’t allowed a touchdown and has two interceptions this season, giving up 23 of 31 targets for just 156 yards, and an opponent passer rating of 58.0. Add in his 24 stops, and it’s just one more great season for a defender who has never been given the credit he deserves for hitting the ground running at the NFL level.

Warner is a prototypical modern NFL linebacker with the size and strength to get downhill vs. the run, but the athleticism to get out in coverage against tight ends, running backs and wide receivers.

His ability to own the middle of the field makes him an invaluable piece for defending contemporary NFL offenses. Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers told Warner following their Week 9 showdown that Warner should be an All-Pro.

It’s not an outrageous claim to say Warner is the best middle linebacker in the NFL. He’s the second-highest graded linebacker overall by Pro Football Focus, trailing only Seattle’s Bobby Wagner. He’s also ranked No. 8 in run defense, No. 12 in tackling, No. 4 in pass rush and No. 1 in coverage by PFF. He’s been outstanding in every facet.

The 49ers may not be backing up their Super Bowl run with a better year, but Fred Warner has. If this isn’t the season where he gets league-wide recognition as one of the game’s best players at his position, it’ll happen soon.

The most underrated defensive players through the first half of the 2020 NFL season

Every year, there are NFL players who perform well under the radar. Here are Touchdown Wire’s most underrated defensive players in 2020.

Though the best NFL players see their exploits magnified on a week-to-week basis, every season also sees those players who work very well under the radar, and do not get the attention their level of play deserves. If you’re a great player on a bad team, that can reduce your prominence. If you’re a low-drafted or undrafted younger player just coming into your own, it can take a second for everyone to catch up with how good you actually are. And if you’re coming back from a rough season or two, perhaps recency bias is not your friend.

RELATED: The most underrated offensive players through the first half of the 2020 NFL season

That said, a number of underrated defensive players have caught our eye — enough to put a more than credible team on the field — and here’s the list: Touchdown Wire’s most underrated defensive players through the first half of the 2020 season.

Russell Wilson, Pete Carroll excited to face 49ers’ ‘do-it-all’ Fred Warner

Seahawks QB Russell Wilson and coach Pete Carroll highly praised the 49ers’ defensive leader, Fred Warner, ahead of the Week-8 contest.

The Seattle Seahawks are used to having the one-up over their opponents when it comes to the linebacker position due to the presence of Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright. But on Sunday, their offense will have to contend with the 49ers’ own elite defensive player – third-year linebacker Fred Warner.

Warner has played at an unbelievable level in 2020, earning a PFF grade of 83.6 through seven games (second-best at his position) as well as notching 54 tackles and two interceptions.

“I think Fred’s one of the best players out there,” said Russell Wilson on Thursday. “He’s super smart, he’s on his stuff, he’s detailed… he brings something that most guys don’t know how to bring.”

In the first of two 2019 matchups between the Seahawks and 49ers, Warner sacked Wilson twice and defended one pass.

“It’s always a challenge going up against him,” Wilson continued. “I’m looking forward to the challenge… I’ve got a lot of respect for him.”

Pete Carroll also expressed high praise for Warner earlier this week in a conference call with 49ers reporters.

“He’s such a hard worker and a great reader and an instinctive guy that you can’t watch the defense and not see him,” Carroll said. “It’s been cool to see him really ascend so quickly.”

Carroll also compared Warner’s leadership style to Bobby Wagner’s, while admitting that he “can’t remember” if Wagner took to the position in the same amount of time.

“Fred certainly has (made an impression),” finished Carroll. “We have a lot of respect for his play.”

The Seahawks kick off against Warner’s 49ers on Sunday, Nov. 1, at 1:25 p.m. PT.

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Watch: Fred Warner intercepts Cam Newton

The 49ers got a highlight play from their defense when Fred Warner intercepted Patriots QB Cam Newton.

The 49ers got a big-time turnover on the first play of the Patriots’ third series. Pressure forced Cam Newton to roll out and throw on the run. His throw was low and behind his intended target and Fred Warner made a sensational snag. It was Warner’s second pick of the year and set up the 49ers for a chance to go up two scores.

WATCH: LB Fred Warner intercepts Giants QB Daniel Jones

Fred Warner’s first interception of the year set up the 49ers with a chance for points before the end of the half vs. the Giants.

The 49ers went up 13-6 late in the first half of Sunday’s game vs. the Giants. Then they got another chance to score thanks to Fred Warner’s first interception of the year.

Warner did a great job running the route for Giants TE Evan Engram there and stepping in front for the pick. The takeaway resulted in three points for San Francisco.

49ers activate Fred Warner from Reserve/COVID-19 list

Fred Warner is off the COVID-19 list and will join the 49ers roster.

The 49ers will have their full 53-man roster at their disposal for Sunday’s season opener against the Arizona Cardinals. Linebacker Fred Warner on Wednesday was activated from the Reserve/COVID-19 list where he’s been since Aug. 31.

When San Francisco cut their roster down they only kept 52 players so they wouldn’t need to make a corresponding roster move once Warner was activated.

Teams don’t announce whether a player contracted COVID-19 or just came into contact with someone who tested positive.

Having Warner back will be key for the 49ers’ defense against a high-octane Arizona Cardinals offense. The 2018 third-round pick has quickly become one of the leaders in San Francisco’s front seven. He calls the defensive plays and fits the mold of the contemporary linebacker thanks to his ability to play against the run and in coverage against running backs, tight ends and wide receivers.

Warner last season led the 49ers with 118 tackles. He also posted 3.0 sacks, nine pass breakups and an interception that he returned 46 yards for a touchdown vs. the Rams.

Getting back Wednesday will allow Warner to get three days of practice in before Sunday’s kickoff and he shouldn’t have any trouble being available against Arizona.

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49ers place LB Fred Warner on reserve/COVID-19 list

49ers LB Fred Warner became the third member of the team to land on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

The 49ers on Monday announced that linebacker Fred Warner was headed for the reserve/COVID-19 list.

Warner is the third 49ers player to go on the list since camp started. Running back Jeff Wilson Jr. and wide receiver Richie James both landed on the list early in camp. Warner did not practice for the 49ers on Sunday.

Teams aren’t allowed to disclose whether a player tested positive for COVID-19, but players can go on the list whether they test positive or come in contact with someone who tested positive.

Warner doesn’t count against the 80-man roster while he’s on the COVID-19 list. He’ll be allowed to return once he’s deemed healthy enough to play. San Francisco’s season opener is set for Sept. 13 at home against the Arizona Cardinals.

The 49ers selected Warner in the third round of the 2018 draft. He quickly earned the starting Mike linebacker spot and hasn’t missed a game during his two seasons.  He’s become one of the key figures in a very good 49ers front-seven.

Last season, Warner racked up 118 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 3.0. sacks, 9 pass breakups, 3 forced fumbles and an interception which he returned for a touchdown.

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Fred Warner’s spot in NFL top 100 players was well-deserved

49ers LB Fred Warner has quickly became the prototypical modern linebacker.

It didn’t take long after the 49ers selected Fred Warner in the third round of the 2018 NFL draft for the linebacker to make an impression. He earned the starting middle linebacker spot and the green dot on his helmet as the defensive signal caller as a rookie. His combination of athleticism and an extremely high football IQ made him an integral part of a rebuilding 49ers defense.

After quarterbacking one of the NFL’s best defenses in his second season, Warner earned the No. 70 spot on the NFL’s top 100 players list.

While he wasn’t given Pro Bowl or All-Pro honors last season, it became clear just how vital Warner was to the 49ers’ defensive success. He was the team’s leading tackler with 118 stops. His 7.0 tackles for loss were the third-most on the team, and he recorded 3.0 sacks. His nine pass breakups tied for second-most on the club. He also had one of their 12 interceptions, and one of their three pick-6s.

One of the question marks about Warner coming out of BYU was his ability to stay on the field for three downs. He hasn’t had any issues with that. Warner in his two seasons has led the 49ers defense in snaps played. While he doesn’t fit the prototype of a hulking, run-stopping linebacker we became accustomed to through most of the NFL’s existence, Warner is suited perfectly for the modern game.

He isn’t an elite run stopper, but he’s good enough to stay on the field in run situations. Where he excels, and the reason he’s so valuable in today’s league, is in coverage. Pro Football Focus gave him the 10th-best coverage grade among linebackers last season. Warner’s athleticism allows him to match up against tight ends, running backs and wide receivers.

Having a player with his skill set roaming the middle of the first and second level is paramount to combating some of the passing concepts that have begun taking over the NFL. Warner’s ability to cover a variety of positions was a big reason San Francisco produced the NFL’s best pass defense last season. He wasn’t a household name, although an interception of Patrick Mahomes in the Super Bowl might’ve changed that, but another year of ascension could make him a consensus pick as one of the two or three best off-ball linebackers in the league.

There are a slew of talented players on the 49ers’ defense. Warner hasn’t turned that unit around by himself. However, his value is impossible to ignore, and that’s why he deserved to debut in the top 70 of the NFL’s top 100 players list.