General manager John Lynch spoke with NBC Sports Bay Area's Matt Maiocco this week and revealed that Warner consistently reminds the team he expects to be back.
And the 49ers certainly aren't discouraging him.
"I think it's outside the realm, and I promise you, it's our duty, with a player like Fred, not to ever put himself in harm's way in terms of not being ready," Lynch told Maiocco.
The Athletic's Matt Barrows believes a return is possible if the 49ers advance far enough into the postseason. His estimates give Warner only a 16% chance of suiting up for the Wild-Card round and 44% for the Divisional round. However, he estimates the odds rise significantly to 78% for the NFC Championship Game—and approach "just-try-and-stop-him percent" for the Super Bowl.
"When I spoke to orthopedic surgeons about the timeline, they said 16 weeks was normal for athletes with Warner's injury, but that there were all sorts of variables — good and bad," Matt Barrows wrote. "Warner broke his ankle on October 12, so the wild-card round (Jan. 10-12) would be 13 weeks since the injury."
But is a return realistic?
"Well, medically, no," Lynch admitted. "I mean, the docs say it's probably on the wrong side of the range that they would suggest. But even the docs with Fred say, 'You know what, let him rehab as if he's coming back for something and we'll see where he's at.'"
Lynch emphasized that the 49ers will continue to follow the medical team's guidance regarding Warner's timeline.
"They'll control this, but Fred is going to push the limits, and he is doing everything possible," Lynch said. "He lives in a hyperbaric chamber [for] two, three hours a day. He's here all the time. He's unbelievable, this guy. It's what made him who he is."
Related News
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
49ers' Fred Warner tumbles in NFL Top 100 after injury-shortened season
San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner is widely regarded as one of the NFL's premier defensive players. However, the four-time All-Pro's 2025 season was cut short by a significant right ankle injury, a setback that appears to have impacted his standing among his... -
49ers' Trent Williams, Fred Warner amazed by Nick Bosa's recovery after ACL injury
For the second time in his NFL career, San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa had his season cut short by an ACL injury. The latest setback occurred in Week 3 of the 2025 season. The good news is that the timing of the injury allowed Bosa ample time to recover and prepare... -
49ers reveal Fred Warner's powerful message to Kyle Shanahan after car accident
As training camp gets underway, the San Francisco 49ers are confident they won't miss a beat despite head coach Kyle Shanahan recovering from serious—but non-life-threatening—injuries sustained in a car accident. Much of that confidence stems from a strong coaching staff... -
49ers training camp: Shanahan observes, Warner returns, Evans impresses, injury updates
The San Francisco 49ers officially reported to training camp this weekend, holding their first practice on Sunday. The session was open to fans, offering an early glimpse at how the team is taking shape ahead of the upcoming 2026 campaign. Before practice, the 49ers announced...