Third-year linebacker Dee Winters has been thrust into a starting role on the 49ers’ defense after offseason departures, including longtime defensive stalwart Dre Greenlaw.
Team captain Fred Warner sees similarities between Winters and his old running mate at linebacker, who joined the Denver Broncos this offseason in NFL free agency.
“When you look at the first thing that pops [out] it’s the speed they play with; they both have similar builds,” Warner explained Tuesday on 95.7 The Game’s “Willard & Dibs.” “They both are extremely explosive and fast athletes on the field and cerebral football players.”
Winters started 10 of his 15 games played last season and has cemented himself at the top of the depth chart in 2025. He has recorded 11 solo tackles in the first two games, tied for most on the team with Warner.
“He’s proven to me that he truly can be one-on-one with anybody out in space,” Warner said of Winters. “It’s really fun being out there and just playing with a lot of energy and having fun.”
Last season, Winters missed the first two games with an ankle injury. With a healthy start to the 2025 NFL season, the 24-year-old linebacker’s 11 solo tackles already matches half of his 2024 season total.
“Some guys, they develop differently than others. And for Dee, he just needed those reps man,” Warner said. “He’s been able to stay healthy, be on the field to get those.”
In the 49ers’ Week 2 win over the New Orleans Saints, Winters played a career-high 62 defensive snaps. It marks just the third game in his career where he has played more than 60 defensive snaps.
“The way that he’s worked, the time that he’s put in and committed himself to wanting to be his best and showing up now on Sundays in a big way,” Warner said.
Winters will look to build on his solid start to the season in the 49ers’ home opener against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.
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