Injuries started defining the San Francisco 49ers season during training camp when they were so banged up they were forced to cancel joint practices with the New Orleans Saints.
It continued into the regular season where a slew of ailments have cost games for players like Christian McCaffrey, Brandon Aiyuk, Nick Bosa, Trent Williams, Brock Purdy and Deebo Samuel. It turns out linebacker Fred Warner is also dealing with a pretty significant injury.
Warner told reporters after Wednesday’s practice that he sustained an ankle fracture in Week 4 against the New England Patriots. He’s been receiving pain-killing injections before each game since in order to play.
This helps explain some of the drop off in production for the 49ers All-Pro middle linebacker. Pro Football Focus grades reflect how much the injury has hampered Warner.
His overall grades through the first were 92.6, 95.8, 71.5 and 96.6 – those are elite numbers.
Warner’s highest overall grade, and his only game above 70.0, in seven games since the injury is 72.8, and that came in Week 8 against the Dallas Cowboys. His 44.7 grade last week vs. the Green Bay Packers was his worst mark since Week 12 of the 2021 season.
It wouldn’t be a huge surprise if Warner winds up sitting out if/when the 49ers are eliminated from playoff contention.
