In the lead-up to the start of Wild Card Weekend's action, FOX Sports insider Jay Glazer provided a notable update on San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner, who has been sidelined since Week 6 after suffering a dislocated and fractured right ankle.
What was initially believed to be a season-ending injury may not be the end of Warner's 2025 campaign. If the 49ers make a deep postseason run, his return remains a possibility.
"Anybody else, I'd say 'absolutely not,' but Fred Warner has blown past all his rehab markers," Glazer said. "I'm actually told, if they get to the NFC Championship Game, they're holding out hope — they think there could be a chance — that Fred Warner could actually go in that game."
We check back in with @JayGlazer on if Fred Warner could return for the 49ers in the playoffs, and he also has an update on the Priest in Pittsburgh! pic.twitter.com/YEI5QYSCug
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) January 10, 2026
That report aligns with the 49ers' messaging. While San Francisco has been cautious, the team has not ruled out the possibility of the All-Pro linebacker returning if it advances through the postseason.
For the first time, Warner was spotted doing light running on the side during Thursday's practice, offering further optimism about his recovery.
When asked about Warner's playoff outlook, head coach Kyle Shanahan stopped short of making any commitments, but acknowledged that a return could be in play if the 49ers reach the NFC Championship Game.
"I think it's too far off right now," Shanahan said. "I think it is a possibility, as we get closer to a possible third game here—a championship game. But it's not something we're thinking about right now."
Of course, any discussion about Warner's return is moot if the 49ers can't get past the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. A win would send San Francisco to the NFC Divisional Round—and keep alive the possibility that one of the NFL's top linebackers could rejoin the team during its playoff run.
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