The San Francisco 49ers got a devastating blow this week when it was revealed that star linebacker Fred Warner had dislocated and broken his ankle, effectively ruling him out for the season. Or maybe not?
The injury usually carries an estimated recovery period of three to four months, which would put Warner potentially on track to return for a late playoff run. While the possibility of the linebacker returning and the 49ers actually making it that far looks slim, San Francisco isn’t ruling out the possibility.
“Let’s get there and let’s see,” general manager John Lynch said about a potential playoff return for Warner. “Fred [Warner] will never rule [a return] out. You give him a timeline, he’ll want to break it and beat it. But I’ll talk to [doctors] more and we’ll see if it’s out there [and] if that’s a possibility. We’ve just got to go put in the work so that perhaps it is.”
Later on Thursday, defensive coordinator Robert Saleh issued a similar sentiment, pointing to Warner’s resolve and desire to return as soon as possible.
“For Fred, he’s a Hall of Famer first ballot, period,” Saleh said. “He still has so many more years left in the tank. For this season to end the way it did, just shameful. But at the same time, I know if we all know Fred, he’s probably gunning to see if he can make it back for a playoff run. So, he’s in great spirits. Surgery went great. He’s going to be around the building, I’m sure he’ll be here the entire time, but I hurt more for Fred than anything else.”
Now, the true recovery timeline could be longer than the expected three to four months, given the need to not only be fully cleared but also ramp up to full speed in the playoffs. But, the fact that there’s a possible chance, no matter how slim it is, is a sliver of hope for the 49ers heading into the latter half of the season.
The Warner injury could change San Francisco’s mentality of pushing the chips forward, however, as the 49ers may be more reluctant to be aggressive at the deadline, being down both Warner and Nick Bosa. Instead, they may elect to shore up only one of the two spots, looking to acquire a rental at a cheaper cost, while potentially even shedding away some of their depth.
But, in the meantime, San Francisco will rely on second-year pro Tatum Bethune at linebacker, who has some big shoes to fill.
“I think comparing people is always dangerous, right? Or trying to find parallels,” Warner said about Bethune and Warner. “Fred’s his own man. Just like when Fred took over, God, when was it, in 2018? He was after having a string of NaVorro Bowman and Patrick Willis. It’s Tatum’s opportunity to go run the defense and run the show. Tatum just needs to be Tatum. He doesn’t have to make any plays that are spectacular. He just needs to make his play.
“As he gets reps and he gets comfortable, a lot of people have got to remember, he’s only in his second year, you can really call him a rookie because he didn’t get much playing time last year. He’s just got to bank these reps, see the game, and again, the more he gets reps, the more he sees, the faster he will get.”
It will certainly be a challenge for the 49ers and their defense, but the 49ers will get a good test this weekend, facing the Atlanta Falcons at home on Sunday Night Football. Perhaps with a key win, they’ll be more inclined to make a trade for extra depth.
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