SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) 鈥� The San Francisco 49ers are opening the practice window for star linebacker Fred Warner with the hope that he could return if the team reaches the NFC title game.
Warner has been out since in a loss at Tampa Bay on Oct. 12, with coach Kyle Shanahan initially describing it as a season-ending injury.
But Warner has been rehabbing since then and even was able to run on a side field last week during practice. Now he will be back officially at practice as the 49ers prepare to play Seattle in the divisional round on Saturday night and could return if San Francisco wins.
鈥淲e鈥檙e not doing much so he鈥檒l walk through out there with us today and things like that, but hoping he can be ready for next week,鈥� Shanahan said Tuesday.
Warner’s presence on the practice field even for a walkthrough provided an emotional lift for the 49ers.
鈥淔or someone who really set the standard here, I would do anything to play with him again this year,鈥� defensive tackle Kalia Davis said. 鈥淲e want him back out there.鈥�
Eric Kendricks is currently manning Warner’s spot at middle linebacker after backup Tatum Bethune got hurt but wasn’t ready to talk about what Warner’s possible return would do for the team.
鈥淲e鈥檙e aren鈥檛 going to talk about next week, right? We鈥檝e got Seattle,鈥� Kendricks said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e got to beat Seattle. Let鈥檚 pump our brakes. We have to beat Seattle this week. .. This is what meaningful football is all about.鈥�
The 49ers have made it this far despite losing their top two defensive players to injuries early in the season, with defensive end Nick Bosa going down with a season-ending knee injury in Week 3 and Warner getting hurt in Week 6.
Warner has been pushing to make a return and if he can, that would provide a needed boost. But Shanahan said the final decision will be in the hands of the team doctors.
鈥淚f he feels good and tells me he鈥檚 good, I鈥檓 probably going to think he is and trust him to get out there,鈥� Shanahan said. 鈥淏ut you can’t always think with your heart and emotionally. So you ask doctors where he鈥檚 at, all the things that these guys have to pass, just protocols that we have in with just sprinting and jumping and things like that. He鈥檚 got to hit all those before we feel it鈥檚 safe.鈥�
But Shanahan added that as soon as the doctors clear Warner, “obviously it鈥檒l be zero decision on my part.鈥�
Warner had been a first-team All-Pro three straight seasons from 2022-24 and made the squad in 2020. His 947 career tackles are the second most for the team, behind Patrick Willis鈥� 950, as far as records go back to 2000.
Warner had missed only one game in his eight-year career before this injury, sitting out in 2021 with a hamstring injury. He played most of last season with a broken bone in his ankle and still earned All-Pro honors.
Warner signed a three-year extension worth $63 million in the offseason, keeping him under contract with the team through the 2029 season.
In other injury news, safety Ji’Ayir Brown (hamstring) and Luke Gifford (quadriceps) all would have been unable to practice had the team held a session. Receiver Ricky Pearsall (knee), linebacker Dee Winters (ankle), guard Dominick Puni (ankle) and defensive lineman Keion White (groin, hamstring) all would have been limited.
Shanahan also said tight end George Kittle is set to have surgery on his ruptured Achilles tendon on Wednesday. Kittle went on injured reserve Tuesday and tight end Brayden Willis was signed from the practice squad.
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