Things just continue to get worse for the San Francisco 49ers, as they not only lost their second game of their 2025 campaign to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday at Raymond James Stadium, but they had arguably their best player go down with an injury.
In the first quarter of Sunday’s game, 49ers linebacker Fred Warner was rolled up on during a 10-yard run by Buccaneers running back Rachaad White. Warner remained down on the field until he was carted off with an air cast on his leg.
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After the game, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed that Warner dislocated and fractured his ankle and will miss the remainder of the season. From there, Shanahan, several 49ers players (past and present), Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles and Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield all had something to say about Warner as well.
Kyle Shanahan
“It’s big. I mean anytime you lose one of your best players – also a huge leader. Obviously, a huge blow. I feel bad for Fred right now. He is in good spirits, so he has a good foundation. but [I have] a lot of faith in Tatum [Bethune], and he is the next man up, and he is going to have to do it throughout the year.”
Mac Jones
“I mean prayers to Fred and his family and everything. I’m not sure exactly what happened, but you know, it obviously looked pretty bad, and Fred’s our team captain, and he’s been the leader of this team for a long time, so really, all you can do is pray for him and know that we have his back. I was disappointed that I didn’t play better for him today. You know, sometimes that can great good play, and it didn’t today. So, I’m really just praying for him, and I know he’s going to do a great job getting back.”
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Christian McCaffrey
“It’s just heartbreaking – it’s such a weird game when you have to see somebody like that, [similar to] what happened with [Nick] Bosa earlier in the year and then just have to continue to play. It’s kind of a weird deal, but it’s heartbreaking. He’s one of the best players I’ve ever played with, and one of the best leaders I’ve ever played with. It’s heartbreaking.”
Jauan Jennings
“[It was] devastating. Fred came to talk to us after the game and lifted us up. It was a next-man-up mentality, just trying to have his back. I was personally nauseous – I had to take some nausea medicine – it just made me sick to my stomach.”
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Trent Williams
“[It’s] heartbreaking. Fred, not only is he one of the best linebackers to ever play the game, but he’s the heart and soul of this team, not just the heart and soul of the defense. it’s one thing to see somebody go down and go to the blue tent – nobody really knows what’s going on. When you see a guy that’s injured like that, it’s really like a gut punch – it truly is hard to continue the intensity of playing a game like that never happened.”
49ers owner/CEO Jed York
“Hard to gain even more respect for Fred Warner. Truly an elite human. Always team first.’
Buccaneers HC Todd Bowles
“It was sickening. You saw it when it happened, and he is one of the best players in the league – great guy on top of that. You hate to see something like that happen and hopefully he has a speedy recovery, but that kind of breaks your heart no matter what side of the ball you are on.”
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Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield
“First of all, losing in the middle of game, Fred Warner, I mean, that sucks. You never want to see that. So, thoughts and prayers with him.”
Former 49ers LB Dre Greenlaw
“Prayers for my brudda.”
Former 49ers LB Patrick Willis
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This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: 49ers react to Fred Warner’s heartbreaking injury vs. Buccaneers