Tag: fred warner

2 injured 49ers stars return to practice ahead of Week 5

Fred Warner and George Kittle practiced on Friday.

The San Francisco 49ers had a good sign on the injury front to start Friday’s practice.

Tight end George Kittle and linebacker Fred Warner were both spotted on the field according to reporters on site at the SAP Performance Center. Kittle is dealing with a rib injury. Warner has an ankle issue. Both players were absent from Wednesday and Thursday’s practices.

It’s unclear how much of practice they’ll be able to take part in. A limited session for Friday’s walk-through wouldn’t bode well for their chances to go in Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals. If both are full participants they’d likely be good to suit up against their NFC West rival.

Warner this season has been one of the best defensive players in football. He has 27 tackles, a league-high three forced fumbles, 1.0 sacks, four pass breakups and two interceptions with one returned for a touchdown.

Kittle hasn’t generated a ton of explosive plays, but his numbers are still strong. Despite missing Week 3 with a hamstring injury, he has 15 receptions for 161 yards and two touchdowns on 17 targets.

The 49ers and Cardinals are slated to kick off at 1:05pm Pacific Time from Levi’s Stadium.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

How 49ers are preparing for potentially missing Fred Warner in Week 5

Fred Warner has missed the first two days of practice this week..

The San Francisco 49ers in Week 5 may have to do something they’ve only had to do one other time in the last seven seasons: play without linebacker Fred Warner.

Warner injured his ankle late in the first half of the 49ers’ Week 4 win over the New England Patriots. He didn’t return to action in that game, then missed the first two days of practice leading up to a Week 5 matchup with the Arizona Cardinals.

There’s still a chance Warner is able to suit up, but defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen said the team is preparing as though they won’t have their three-time All-Pro roaming the second level.

“Yeah, it’s not really counteract, it’s just next man up,” Sorensen said. “You’ll never fully replace Fred. Not saying we are, it’s just, the next guy’s got to practice and he’s got to operate. We’ve had some injuries. There’s adversity and there’s opportunity. So with that, the next guy gets a chance and they step up and you saw that even losing (DT Javon) Hargrave. We’ve had guys step in and (LB De’Vondre) Campbell play and not having (LB Dre Greenlaw) Law. Like you just asked about Malik Mustapha playing without having (SS Talanoa Hufanga) Huf, Huf’s played one game. So guys get opportunities and we expect them to perform and they expect themselves to, too. So at practice, that’s really where you get those reps and hone your skills. And with Fred and without Fred you’ve got to communicate and guys are doing that.”

It’s unclear exactly how the 49ers will replace Warner if he can’t go.

Campbell may be a factor at the Mike LB spot. LB Dee Winters has also started working in with the starters as a Will LB. He’s a candidate to jump into the lineup even if it is Campbell at MLB. Rookie Tatum Bethune is another option to jump into a starting role. It appears Campbell and Winters would be the two frontrunners to be the three-down players though.

It doesn’t seem likely recently-re-signed second-year LB Jalen Graham will factor in with the starting group, although with veteran Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles dealing with an injury and missing Thursday’s practice, the 49ers may not have a ton of choice with Graham. DaShaun White is the lone practice squad option. He may be elevated for the game, but he won’t likely see the field defensively.

Ideally the 49ers won’t need to rely on their LB depth, but getting by without starters has defined their season on both sides of the ball so far. Sunday they may once again need to lean on their ‘next man up’ mentality.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

 

49ers get bad injury news with key NFC West matchup approaching

The Niners practice report on Thursday is ugly.

The San Francisco 49ers are officially in a bad place injury-wise heading into their Week 5 matchup with the Arizona Cardinals.

San Francisco has yet to win an NFC matchup this season and they’re 0-1 in the NFC West. A loss to Arizona would be a significant setback, and the 49ers may have to navigate that game without a couple of superstars.

Wednesday’s practice participation report was ugly with 10 players either out or limited due to injury. It didn’t get any better Thursday.

Linebacker Fred Warner and tight end George Kittle both remained absent from Thursday’s practice. Warner has an ankle injury he suffered in Week 4. Kittle has a rib injury he’s been dealing with since the 49ers’ win over the Patriots as well.

Two non-participations to start the week doesn’t bode well for either player’s availability in Week 5, but we’ll get a better idea of whether they’ll play once the team issues its injury report after Friday’s practice.

Here’s Thursday’s participation report:

Did not participate

WR Chris Conley (oblique)
WR Jacob Cowing (shoulder)
LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (calf)
DE Yetur Gross-Matos (knee)
TE George Kittle (ribs)
LB Fred Warner (ankle)

Flannigan-Fowles was downgraded to a non-participation after getting listed as limited in Wednesday’s session. The 49ers are in big trouble if they’re missing two linebackers, a defensive end and Kittle against Arizona.

Limited participation

DT Jordan Elliott (knee)
DT Kevin Givens (triceps)
S Talanoa Hufanga (ankle)
LB Dee Winters (ankle)
CB Isaac Yiadom (thigh)

There’s good and bad news here. Winters was limited a day after not participating which bodes well for his chances to play. Yiadom was limited though after not going on the participation report Wednesday. If he’s unable to play, the 49ers will have to rely on rookie cornerback Renardo Green to be their third CB on Sunday.

Full participation

DT Kalia Davis (knee)
FB Kyle Juszczyk (shoulder)
LT Trent Williams (not injury related – resting player)

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

49ers injury updates: 11 players out or limited to begin Week 5

The 49ers’ practice participation report from Wednesday is scary!

The San Francisco 49ers’ practice participation report was crowded Wednesday as the team began its on-field preparations for Week 5 against the Arizona Cardinals.

It’s not a huge surprise there are a ton of names on the list. 11 players were either non-participants or limited in Wednesday’s session. A slew of 49ers were banged up in their Week 4 win over the New England Patriots, and head coach Kyle Shanahan on Monday in a conference call indicated each of the players hurt Sunday were considered day-to-day.

The day-to-day designation gives some hope that Wednesday was a precautionary day off for a group headlined by superstar linebacker Fred Warner. Still, no practice to start the week isn’t a great sign. Thursday and Friday will give us better indications of their Week 5 availability.

Here’s the practice report from Wednesday:

Did not participate

WR Chris Conley (oblique)
WR Jacob Cowing (shoulder)
DE Yetur Gross-Matos (knee)
TE George Kittle (ribs)
LB Fred Warner (ankle)
LB Dee Winters (ankle)

Yikes! The 49ers have the depth to make up for a game without Conley or Cowing. They’ve been able to get by without Winters this year while he’s dealt with a nagging ankle issue. Even though they’re thin on the defensive line, they should even be able to piece together a DL if Gross-Matos is out. Navigating life without Kittle and Warner would be exceedingly difficult though, particularly against a division opponent desperate for a win.

Limited participation

DT Jordan Elliott (knee)
LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (calf)
DT Kevin Givens (triceps)
S Talanoa Hufanga (ankle)
LT Trent Williams (not injury related – resting player)

It’s a good sign that Hufanga was at least limited after sitting out Sunday’s game. That bodes well for his chances to play. Elliott also left Sunday’s game early with knee swelling. It looks like he has a shot to suit up Sunday as well with a limited practice to start the week. Either way, the glut of defensive linemen dealing with injury issues isn’t going to help the 49ers’ defense stabilize after a rough start to the year.

Full participation

DT Kalia Davis (knee)
FB Kyle Juszczyk (shoulder)

The 49ers opened Davis’s practice window Wednesday. A full practice to get started is a really positive sign for him. He hurt his knee in the preseason opener and required surgery. Getting him back as a depth piece on the D-line would be huge.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

ESPN analyst says 49ers have best defensive player in NFL

Through four games, the 49ers LB has already recorded three forced fumbles, two interceptions, a sack and 27 total tackles.

Following his red-hot start to the 2024 NFL campaign, San Francisco 49ers star linebacker Fred Warner is beginning to pile up some rightful recognition.

In an appearance on ESPN’s The Pat McAfee Show, former NFL defensive back Darius Butler shared some high praise for the 49ers defensive captain.

Opening his segment on The Pat McAfee Show, Butler said the 49ers linebacker is the best defensive player in the NFL before breaking down Warner’s highlight-reel pick-six against New England Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett.

Via @PatMcAfeeShow on Twitter:

Through four games, Warner has already racked up three forced fumbles, two interceptions, a sack and 27 total tackles for the 49ers. On Sunday, he notched his first touchdown of the season with a heroic interception off Brisett.

This post originally appeared on Niners Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

49ers get good injury news on LB Fred Warner, others hurt in Week 4

Some 49ers injury updates from Kyle Shanahan’s Monday conference call:

The San Francisco 49ers exited their Week 4 victory over the New England Patriots with a slew of new injury problems from the game.

Six players were hurt during the game including linebacker Fred Warner. Warner exited the game just before the end of the first half and never returned. The All-Pro LB tried to return, but head coach Kyle Shanahan said he wasn’t able to. Warner wound up skipping the entire second half.

Immediately after the game Shanahan didn’t have an update, but he had a positive one Monday in a conference call with reporters.

Warner is considered day-to-day with an ankle issue.

That day-to-day designation was given to the other five players hurt as well. Wide receiver Jacob Cowing has a shoulder issue, defensive tackle Jordan Elliott is working through a knee injury, tight end George Kittle is dealing with a rib injury, WR Chris Conley has an oblique injury, and fullback Kyle Juszczyk has a shoulder injury.

It doesn’t sound like there’s any major concern with any of those ailments. Shanahan indicated there’s hope each player will be able to heal up in time to play against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 5.

Last week quarterback Brock Purdy was listed as day-to-day with a back injury. He wound up a full participant in all three practices.

The 49ers will have the day off Tuesday. Wednesday’s practice report will give us a better indication of where each player is for Week 5. For now, day-to-day is a good sign.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

49ers injury news piles up in Week 4 win over Patriots

The 49ers have more injury issues after Week 4 where Fred Warner missed the entire second half.

The San Francisco 49ers can’t quite get their injury situation to stabilize. Sunday’s 30-13 victory over the Patriots came with a whole new set of question marks on the health front.

Most notably, linebacker Fred Warner is dealing with an ankle injury that sidelined him for the entire second half of Sunday’s game. Warner came out of the tunnel for the second half looking like he’d return after leaving late in the first half. However, he was unable to make his way onto the field once the game began.

“I don’t, I know Fred tried to go, came out in third quarter and tried to go, but didn’t feel like he could,” head coach Kyle Shanahan said in his post-game press conference.

This is a significant deal that should be watched closely given how vital Warner is to the 49ers’ defense.

He jogged to the locker room before the half and ran off the field after the game which points toward him being at least somewhat healthy. On the other hand, that he didn’t return to the game and that Shanahan didn’t have an update afterward isn’t a great sign.

Warner wasn’t the only injury issue for the 49ers though.

Defensive tackle Jordan Elliott, who became an essential piece of the 49ers’ defense, exited with a knee injury after dealing with a foot injury in practice during the week. Shanahan said the team doesn’t think the knee injury is ACL-related.

Tight end George Kittle briefly exited with a rib injury, but he returned. Wide receivers Jacob Cowing (shoulder) and Chris Conley (oblique) both had injury issues and returned to the game. Fullback Kyle Juszczyk left the game late with shoulder injury per Shanahan, although the severity of that is unknown as well.

Shanahan is scheduled talk to media again Monday at 3:30pm Pacific Time, at that point he’ll have additional updates.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

49ers get 1st touchdown vs. Patriots from unlikely place

Run Fred Warner his DPOY.

The NFL might want to start making the Defensive Player of the Year trophy for San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner.

He’s up to three forced fumbles and two interceptions this season after snagging an interception off of Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett.

What made the play so remarkable is that Warner not only had the athleticism to get up and make the interception, but he had the athleticism to get up and follow a couple of blocks into the end zone for the 49ers’ first touchdown of the game vs. New England.

It put the 49ers ahead 13-0 and gave a much-needed spark to a defense that had been struggling.

Gimme Him: Fred Warner would provide spark for Patriots’ LB position

Fred Warner would be a key component of the Patriots’ linebacker group

The New England Patriots are set to take on a San Francisco 49ers team with plenty of defensive playmakers on their roster.

For this week’s Gimme Him, the Patriots could use 49ers three-time All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner, who has become a staple of the 49ers’ linebacker unit.

Warner is having another solid start to the season. He has 20 combined tackles on the year, a sack and an interception. He is coming off a game against the Los Angeles Rams that saw him record four total tackles, following his seven tackles against the New York Jets and nine tackles against the Minnesota Vikings

The Patriots need help at the linebacker position with Ja’Whaun Bentley out for the season. Bentley was missed in Thursday’s 24-3 loss to the Jets. In particular, the New England defense had trouble stopping the run, which Bentley greatly excelled at.

Warner could help fill that gap and provide New England with veteran leadership at the position.

In addition to what he could bring to the table this season, Warner has been a consistent player throughout his career. He has 786 total tackles, 10 sacks and nine interceptions. His versatility and ball instincts are both things the Patriots’ linebacker group could use at the moment.

Of course, this is very much a dream scenario. Even still, there’s no denying that Warner would be an instant upgrade to the linebacker group on a defense that struggled last week.

He would be exactly what the unit needs to stay competitive after a 1-2 start to the season.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

49ers superstar LB snubbed for award after monster game vs Vikings

The All-Pro LB forced a pair of turnovers, recorded a sack and led the 49ers in tackles on Sunday against the Vikings.

Despite the San Francisco 49ers’ rough loss to the Minnesota Vikings, All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner put together a memorable performance.

After notching a forced fumble and seven tackles against the New York Jets on Monday Night Football, the All-Pro linebacker continued his early Defensive Player of the Year campaign in Week 2 against the Vikings.

With the 49ers stalling offensively, Warner provided multiple sparks on the defensive side of the football. Not only did Warner jump a throw from Sam Darnold for a momentum-switching interception, the former BYU Cougar saved a would-be Vikings touchdown with a heroic forced fumble at the goal line against Aaron Jones.

Warner finished with a team-high nine tackles, a sack, a tackle for loss, two pass deflections, a quarterback hit, a forced fumble and an interception in the 49ers’ 23-17 loss to the Vikings.

Despite his impressive performance, Warner was not named Defensive Player of the Week in the NFC. Atlanta Falcons defensive back Jessie Bates earned the award for Week 2.

In a win on Monday night against the Philadelphia Eagles, Bates notched 12 tackles, a tackle for loss, two pass deflections and a game-sealing interception in the final seconds of the fourth quarter against Jalen Hurts.

Via @AtlantaFalcons on Twitter:

Detroit Lions pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson should also be in the conversation for Defensive Player of the Week. The former Michigan Wolverine sacked Baker Mayfield 4.5 times in the Lion’s loss to the Buccaneers on Sunday.

This post originally appeared on Niners Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!