San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch called the possibility of Fred Warner returning for the playoffs "a stretch," yet emphasized that counting out the All-Pro linebacker would be unwise. Warner suffered a dislocated and fractured right ankle in Week 6, an injury that appeared to end his season. Still, there remains speculation that he could return if San Francisco makes a deep enough postseason run.

While the odds remain slim, Warner isn't ruling anything out.


"I hear all the chatter around the internet and everywhere asking, 'Is Fred going to make it back for the playoffs?' ... Hey, I guess time will tell," Warner said on his Real Ones: The League podcast, per Taylor Wirth of NBC Sports Bay Area.

He added, "Never say never. We shall see."

Warner shared that recovery has been challenging but is trending in a positive direction as he works to avoid setbacks.

"We are in an amazing spot ... I'm fully back to being on my 10 toes, back to being on my feet, walking around again, and it's the best feeling in the world," he said.

Fans can expect to see Warner walking the field before Sunday's game, when the 49ers host the Tennessee Titans. His days on a scooter or crutches are officially over.


"I'm really happy where things are," Warner continued. "Things have progressed now to where I'm out of the training room in terms of doing all my rehab stuff. I'll get in, I'll do the underwater treadmill to get things loosened up, and then we're out to the weight room. We're getting the lifts in now, upper- and lower-body stuff, it's all about getting that range of motion back in the ankle and building strength within that range, of course."

Warner revealed that he's even been able to do some light on-field work as he continues pushing toward full strength.

"Fred's crushing it," Lynch said. "He's going to attack everything in his life with the same mentality, which is not waste a minute, focus on what he can control, and that's working his tail off. I've told you all the lengths that Fred goes [through] to be the best he can possibly be. He's not approaching this any different."

For now, Warner is working to ensure his teammates know he has their backs—even if it's from the sideline. The 49ers enter Week 15 with a 9-4 record and a three-game winning streak. Despite a string of injuries, San Francisco appears well-positioned for a playoff return after missing the postseason in 2025.

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