Fred Warner is a rising NFL star. The San Francisco 49ers' third-year linebacker doesn't possess a plethora of NFL awards, Pro Bowls, or All-Star honors. Those things are probably coming, though. To his teammates, he's already there. Now, it's just time for the rest of the NFL to take notice.
"He's an incredible linebacker," tight end George Kittle said in August. "He was, in my opinion, a Pro Bowl linebacker last year, and I think he's going to be better this year. Just being able to play against him every day makes me a better tight end. It's just really fun to have someone like that on your team."
That's high praise from one of the NFL's best young offensive stars.
On Sunday night, the winless Philadelphia Eagles will face Warner and the 49ers at Levi's Stadium. Head coach Doug Pederson knows exactly how talented Warner is, and praised the young linebacker while offering a scouting report during a conference call with 49ers reporters on Wednesday.
Pederson admires Warner's ability to stay on the field for nearly every down. The linebacker has played 90 percent of the defensive snaps this season, including playing every snap during Week 1 against the Arizona Cardinals.
"This kid, just a lot of energy," Pederson said. "For a young player, you can see the leadership, getting the defense lined up, getting them in the right calls, and directing the traffic. That's what you like to see from your young players, really on both sides of the ball. But with him, just a lot of energy, a lot of enthusiasm.
"The kid can run. He's a downhill, physical linebacker that I think is just playing really well right now."
Pederson added that his players are looking forward to the task of facing Warner and the 49ers' stout defense.
"I know they're missing some pieces, but it's still an aggressive attack style," the coach said. "They're very dominant and explosive up front with their front four guys. Linebackers can run; they're young. You put on the tape, and you just love the way they play. You respect everything about them.
"So it takes a quality game plan. It takes us just being able to execute against a really good front, and our guys look forward to going against a great defense like this."
The 49ers kick off against the Eagles from Levi's Stadium on Sunday at 5:20 p.m. PT.