San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner is not expected to play on Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks. However, Warner is pushing to get onto the field. While he is officially listed as "doubtful" for the Week 13 NFC West battle, the linebacker has been testing his hamstring strain on a side field during practices this week.
On Monday, head coach Kyle Shanahan had seemingly ruled Warner out for Sunday's game. But seeing the effort he is putting in this week, the 49ers are leaving the door open to the possibility of the linebacker playing.
"It is doubtful but Fred is trying as hard as he can to go, and I won't put it past him, but he's going to have to do some hard convincing," Shanahan said on Friday. "... He hasn't [lobbied] to me personally but just watching him out on the field, he won't go out there without a helmet.
"He's doing everything with every rep on the side, on his own. And he's showing the trainers that he's got a chance, so he's not going to give up. That's what you hope for the guy. But it is 'doubtful.'"
Given how hard Warner works, one 49ers teammate admitted this week that he wouldn't be shocked to see the linebacker play. On Thursday, tight end George Kittle was asked if he feels Warner could get on the field on Sunday.
"I hope so," Kittle responded. "I hope that's his mindset, which I think it is. I feel like Fred and me are pretty similar. We do everything we can to be available on Sundays. The amount of work, we practice hard, but the amount of time we put into our bodies Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, I know that he is working diligently on being able to be on the field on Sunday.
"If he plays, I won't be surprised. And if he doesn't play, he's dealing with something. It's not going to be disappointing for me. Obviously, I want him out there, but whatever's best for him. We've still got some games left he needs to play in."