San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan announced Tuesday that the team will open Fred Warner's practice window this week, taking a significant step toward the star linebacker's potential early return from a dislocated and fractured right ankle suffered on October 12.
"We're opening his window so he can do some stuff," Shanahan said.
Update: Tuesday's NFL transaction wire lists Warner as "designated for return," making the move official.
The update marks a notable shift from Shanahan's comments just days earlier, when he indicated it was unlikely the 49ers would open Warner's practice window this week.
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Shanahan cautioned, however, that the move does not mean Warner will play Saturday against the Seattle Seahawks. Instead, the decision appears aimed at preparing for a potential return if the 49ers advance to the NFC Championship Game.
"We're not doing much, so he'll walk through with us out there today, and things like that, but hoping he can be ready for next week," Shanahan said.
Shanahan emphasized that the 49ers are not interested in rushing Warner back onto the field before he is fully cleared.
"I approach it by what doctors tell me," Shanahan said. "I mean, I'm like Fred—if he feels good and tells me he's good, I'm probably going to think he's good, and trust him to get out there. But you can't always think with your heart and emotionally. And so, you ask doctors where he's at, all the things that these guys have to pass, just protocols that we have in, which is sprinting and jumping, and things like that. He's got to hit all those before we feel it's safe."
According to Shanahan, Warner has not been lobbying coaches for an early return.
"That's not Fred's style, totally," Shanahan said. "He does that by showing how hard he's working on the side, and knows that we're watching. He knows he doesn't have to do that to me. As soon as he's ready, obviously, it'll be zero decision on my part."
While the 49ers remain cautious, Warner recently made it clear he would play if the decision were solely his.
"I'm ready whenever they're ready," Warner said in a recent podcast interview. "There's some T's that gotta be crossed, I's that gotta be dotted. Unfortunately, if it were just up to me, I'd be out there this weekend, but it's unfortunately not that way. I've got to make sure I'm checking all the boxes, and everybody has to give me the okay before they let me go out there.
"But I'm pushing, man. I'm training hard. I'm back doing full football drills and everything, so time will tell. We gotta pull the win off first."