49ers defensive leader Fred Warner is mobile at practice, sparking a wave of energy throughout the team and its fans.
The San Francisco 49ers are seeing an unexpected surge of optimism at precisely the right time, and it centers on the steady and increasingly rapid recovery of defensive cornerstone Fred Warner.
The team officially opened Warner’s practice window this week as he continues to work his way back from a dislocated and fractured ankle.
This development has energized the locker room, even if his return to game action remains uncertain.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan has been clear that Warner is not expected to play in the Divisional Round against the Seattle Seahawks. The long-held hope remains that the All-Pro linebacker could be cleared if the 49ers advance to the NFC Championship Game.
That timeline is ultimately in the hands of the medical staff, though Warner himself believes he is already close.
“If it were up to me, I’d be out there,” Warner said recently. “I’m back doing full football drills. I’m pushing every day.”
While Warner won’t be in uniform Saturday, his presence has already altered the tone of practice. Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh described Warner as a constant energy source, someone whose intensity raises the tempo simply by being on the field.
Even during walkthroughs, his movement and communication have stood out as the team sharpens its focus for the postseason.
That energy has spilled into the locker room as well. Teammates have noticed a lift in confidence and urgency since Warner returned to practice, with several players pointing to his leadership as a stabilizing force during a physically demanding stretch of the schedule.
Warner practiced at full speed Wednesday, drawing attention not just for how well he moved, but for the joy he clearly brought with him.
Veteran left tackle Trent Williams framed Warner’s progress as something bigger than a single playoff game.
Less than 100 days removed from a severe ankle injury, Warner, wearing a jersey again, has served as a reminder of what’s possible.
“Just seeing him out there is uplifting,” Williams said. “That’s motivation for everyone.”
Publicly, the 49ers continue to stress patience, repeating that Warner’s status will be evaluated on a day-by-day basis.
Privately, Warner has challenged every benchmark placed in front of him, already exceeding expectations by returning to football activities earlier than initially projected.
The timing of his progress matters. San Francisco is navigating another short week and enters the Divisional Round at a significant rest disadvantage, a scenario that has historically spelled trouble for playoff teams.
Shanahan has struck a balance between recovery and urgency, scheduling at least one full-speed practice after a recent loss to Seattle exposed the risks of an overly light approach.