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Fred Warner is carted off of the field after being injured during the first quarter against the Buccaneers in the game on October 12, 2025.
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t 9-4, the San Francisco 49ers are in the thick of the NFC playoff race. Injuries have plagued the team all year long but even without several key players, the 49ers are still finding ways to win and enter their week 14 bye week with a lot at stake. Currently the No. 7 seed, continuing to win will not only ensure that the 49ers return to the playoff after a one season absence, but it will also help them on their quest of hosting a playoff game. The 49ers are hungry and ready to prove that they have what it takes to compete for the Super Bowl.
But even with the playoffs at the forefront of their mind, the 49ers are feeling the effects of missing some of their stars. One of the 49ers’ losses, linebacker Fred Warner, has been out since week six with an ankle injury. Prior to his injury, Warner continued to play like the best linebacker in the NFL, leading the 49ers defense to some triumphant victories. But, now that Warner is dealing with a broken ankle, the 49ers will need to navigate the rest of the season, including the playoffs without him. But one 49ers insider believes a potential late season return for Warner is not off the table if his rehab goes well enough.
Could Warner Return for the Playoffs?
Contrary to what head coach Kyle Shanahan said, believing a return for Warner is far fetched, 49ers insider Matt Barrows said that while the standard timeline for Warner’s recovery is about 16 weeks, there are a lot of variables at play that could lead to a sooner return for Warner. And based on how tough of a player Warner is, it would not be shocking to see him take the field sooner.
“When I spoke to orthopedic surgeons about the timeline, they said 16 weeks was normal for athletes with Warner’s injury, but that there were all sorts of variables — good and bad,” Barrows said. “Warner broke his ankle on Oct. 12, so the wild-card round (Jan. 10-12) would be 13 weeks since the injury.”
Barrows even went further and gave his estimated odds of Warner returning for each round.
Wild-card round: 16 percent
Divisional round: 44 percent
Championship round: 78 percent
Super Bowl: just-try-and-stop-him percent
Warner’s 49ers’ Impact
Since being drafted by the 49ers’ in the third round of the 2018 draft, Warner has evolved into arguably the NFL’s best linebacker. Earning four Pro Bowl trips and four first-team All Pros, Warner has finished every single he has played with over 100 tackles and aside from one game missed in 2021, this season is the first season of his career that he has missed multiple games due to injury. A true workhorse and staple on the 49ers’ defense, Warner is a superstar and whenever he is healthy, it is clear that the 49ers are a better team.
After their week 14 bye, the 49ers will play four more games before the playoffs, where winning out helps their chances of climbing the standings and hosting a postseason game.
Dylan Grausz A lifelong sports fan, Dylan channels his passion for sports into being a journalist, where his primary goal is to provide readers with content that they love to read. A native of the San Francisco Bay Area, Dylan’s love for the Warriors, 49ers and Giants runs deep, having the ultimate dream of being a beat reporter for one of those teams. More about Dylan Grausz
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