The San Francisco 49ers on Wednesday activated linebacker Fred Warner off of the reserve/COVID-19 list. He had been away from the team since August 31.
Warner was back on the practice field this week as the 49ers prepare for their Week 1 matchup on Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals.
"He's looked good," defensive coordinator Robert Saleh told reporters on Thursday. "I think whatever the performance crew has going for him, he looks fine to me. But he's excited to be around and all that stuff, so he looks good. I'm not expecting any restrictions for him."
Warner also spoke with reporters on Thursday. Of course, the linebacker didn't want to get into the specifics of how he landed on the reserve/COVID-19 list. He simply noted that a player is placed on the list should he either test positive for the virus or come in close contact with an infected person.
Warner said he is feeling "legendary, as my guy Kwon (Alexander) would say."
As for what it was like being away from his teammates and coaches...
"It sucked. It did," Warner said. "Being away from the team for 10 days, it's hard knowing that you're possibly letting the team down, everybody misses you, and missing all that time. At the same time, I'm just grateful it happened when it did and not doing the season. Being back at the time that I am, able to get going for Week 1, that's a blessing. But yeah, it wasn't a fun process."
The third-year linebacker feels ready to go for Sunday and doesn't feel like the time away will impact his performance against the Cardinals.
"I feel great," Warner said. "I think that's a credit to training with the performance staff out here right before camp started, having that base underneath me, so when I did come back, I was ready to go. So I feel great out there."
The good news is that Warner has fresh legs thanks to the practices he was forced to sit out — at least, that's what his teammates keep telling him.
"This window was obviously very unique, but I've kind of used it to my advantage in saying that I'm just going to come out of it stronger," Warner explained. "And I think my teammates have rallied around me, me coming back.
"Obviously, having 10 days off, I guess you could say that I have fresh legs. That's the joke around the building, but I'm ready to go. Mentally, physically, everything is where it needs to be."
