By Saad Yousuf, Vic Tafur, Matt Barrows and Dianna Russini
The San Francisco 49ers were dealt another significant blow to their defensive front, as star linebacker Fred Warner was carted off the field in the first quarter of Sunday’s 30-19 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Coach Kyle Shanahan announced after the game that Warner suffered a broken and dislocated right ankle. He will undergo season-ending surgery.
Teammate Ji’Ayir Brown rolled up on the back of Warner’s ankle while trying to make a tackle on Rachaad White, and Warner’s ankle bent at an awkward angle. Players on the field immediately motioned to the sideline for trainers and Warner’s right leg was in an aircast as he was carted off. He was quickly ruled out with an ankle injury.
The 49ers defense did have an immediate response after Warner’s injury, as rookie Mykel Williams had a sack on third down, but the 49ers went into halftime trailing 20-16 and couldn’t mount a second-half rally. Tatum Bethune replaced Warner at middle linebacker alongside Dee Winters. Third-round draft pick Nick Martin, inactive again Sunday, might get a look going forward.
The 49ers are already shorthanded on the defensive front, as Nick Bosa was lost for the season a few weeks ago with a torn ACL. The 49ers are also dealing with a plethora of injuries on offense, including starting quarterback Brock Purdy (toe), tight end George Kittle (hamstring) and a collection of their starting receivers.
Warner has been a stalwart in the middle of the 49ers defense since he was drafted in the third round in 2017. Warner got his first of four first-team All-Pro nods in 2020, and has been on the first-team All-Pro team in each of the past three seasons. Warner was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week this season for his Week 2 performance against the New Orleans Saints in which he recorded 11 tackles, one tackle for a loss and forced a fumble in a 26-21 victory for the 49ers.
One of the main reasons the 49ers were 4-1 despite all of their injuries was because of the play and leadership of Warner.
Warner, 28, had three pass breakups, two forced fumbles and 28 solo tackles, two of them for a loss, this season.
His season-ending injury means the 49ers lose not only a Defensive Player of the Year candidate but also the most vocal and energetic player in the locker room. Warner handles nearly every team speech — at the beginning and end of practices, before games and in the locker room just before the start of the second half. He’s also the fourth team captain to go down with an injury this season, joining Kittle, Purdy and Bosa. Bosa is out for the season. Purdy and Kittle are candidates to return next week against the Atlanta Falcons.
Warner has missed one start — in 2021 — in his eight seasons as a 49ers linebacker. He played most of the 2024 season with a broken bone in his ankle.
