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“I’m feeling extremely blessed, grateful to be back, feeling great and no restrictions, " Warner told reporters Monday at the team facility for the beginning of the offseason program. His return will be a massive boost to the defensive interior after the Pro Bowl linebacker required surgery to correct a gruesome ankle injury sustained in October of the 2025 season. Warner has made four Pro Bowls during his stellar eight-year NFL career.

His 21-day practice window will open. The 49ers have been clear that Warner will not play unless they get to the NFC Championship game, even that seems quick for their superstar linebacker who has been on the shelf since early October. Warner’s return will be fresh air for the 49ers if they can get to it — they opened as seven-point underdogs to the Seahawks in Seattle after the NFC West champs throttled San Francisco for the title in Week 18.

Rapoport’s report comes on the heels of a report from NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco Friday essentially saying the same thing, though Rapoport explicitly states that Warner is ahead of schedule in his recovery from ankle surgery. While that’s great news, we’ve seen this song and dance before. Warner’s return would require him returning to play well ahead of his original injury timeline as well as a 49ers run to the NFC Championship game without him. It would be a great story, but remains a long-shot at best.

Per a source, “Warner could make a push to be available for the NFC Championship Game, if the 49ers are able to advance that far in the postseason.” 49ers GM John Lynch acknowledged that “it would be well ahead of the original timeline we were given,” but it is possible for Warner to return if he can meet the “objective measurements” placed in front of him by team doctors. Per Maiocco, “Lynch sounded more optimistic” than he had been previously, when discussing whether Warner could “play again this season.” Warner’s return is far from guaranteed, as is the 49ers’ theoretical playoff run, but this is now a story worth following. Stay tuned.

This was to be expected after Warner was carted from the field in an air cast after injuring his ankle. The veteran linebacker’s ankle was bent in an unnatural way, immediately leading to everyone fearing the worst. It’s another tough blow for a Niners team that has been decimated by injuries all season. Warner has been an Iron Man in the league since being drafted in 2018. Warner had missed only one regular season game in his career, but will now hope to return in time for training camp next offseason.

Warner’s foot went a way that a foot should not go after he was rolled up on defending against a Rachaad White run in the first quarter. It was a brutal injury, likely one that will end his season, and the last thing the 49ers needed for a defense without any other impact pieces.

Warner appears to be ready to rock after briefly visiting the blue medical tent. Warner landed hard on the right side of his chest and jogged off the field under his own power. He returned later in the drive, in time to watch Seahawks RB Zach Charbonnet punch in a one-yard rushing touchdown, bringing the game up to a 7-7 tie in the first quarter.

Warner came down hard on the right side of his chest with his arm extended upward. It could be a shoulder injury, or something involving one of the smaller joints on either end of the collarbone. He jogged off the field under his own power and headed directly into the blue medical tent.

The Niners continue to take care of their own, inking Warner to a deal that will make him the league’s highest-paid linebacker while giving him $56.7 million in guaranteed money. Warner, 28, totaled 131 tackles five TFLs, and two interceptions last season while on his way to earning his third-straight First-Team All-Pro honors. Warner’s new deal will keep him with the 49ers through the 2029 season, which could put him in line for another big deal if he continues to play at a high level.

Warner sustained the injury against the Patriots in Week 4, and has played through it ever since because “it’s the NFL and you’re not going to be healthy.” Fair enough, Fred. We still have to point out that should the 49ers season go south and they fumble out of playoff contention, there is a chance that they’d shut Warner down for the rest of the year.