Linebackers Fred Warner and Kwon Alexander didn't have a chance to take part in the San Francisco 49ers' offseason program. Alexander is rehabbing from an ACL injury he sustained in October. Warner recently underwent a clean-up procedure on his knee.
Both linebackers are expected to be full-go for training camp. It will be their first opportunity to line up next to one another. Up until now, the two could be seen lined up next to each other on the sideline. While they are often diagnosing what's happening on the practice field, Warner admits they spend a lot of their time trash-talking at the offense.
Maybe that's a preview of things to come for the 49ers' new linebacker duo.
The two are expected to start at the WILL and MIKE linebacker spots. Warner, who spoke with reporters on Thursday, isn't concerned about their lack of practice reps. He believes they will have plenty of time to create chemistry leading up to the regular season.
Alexander hasn't been on the field, but he can be seen jumping around with the training staff like he's ready to go. Warner sees what general manager John Lynch saw in Alexander — a high-energy linebacker who can make a significant impact on defense.
"He brings a lot of energy," Warner said. "He's brought a swag to the group, for sure. I'm looking forward to seeing him out there, running around. I know I see him during workouts. He looks great."
The 49ers targeted Alexander early in free agency despite the linebacker coming off a serious injury, signing him to a four-year deal worth up to $54 million.
"I think there's players that are tone-setters, that kind of create an energy for their teammates that they can feed off, and Kwon's really one of those guys," Lynch said in March. "You can see it through the film. You can see it when you talk to his teammates in Tampa, when you talk to anybody who's watched this guy play or played against him. He's that kind of player."
Warner hopes that newfound swag will make the defense more intimidating to opposing offenses and set a tone early, before games even kick off.
"Every year that we get more of that chemistry together, as a group, I feel like that's where it gets to come out — our confidence," Warner said. "The more we can play with that, the more we're going to instill fear into our opponents on game day, leading up to the game during that week. They should be able to turn on the film and be like, 'Oh man, we got the Niners this week.'"
While the coaching staff feels confident Warner will be ready to go for training camp, the linebacker is just awaiting an "all clear" from the health and performance staff.
"A lot of that, you don't have much control over," Warner said. "You've just got to listen to what the trainers are telling you, and that's what I've been doing. They have a pan for me, and I'm just going to follow that."
You can watch the entire interview with Warner below, courtesy of the Santa Rosa Press Democrat's Grant Cohn.