When will Fred Warner return? What to know about potential playoff comeback for 49ers star LB

Daniel Chavkin

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When will Fred Warner return? What to know about potential playoff comeback for 49ers star LB image

As the San Francisco 49ers look to make another run to the Super Bowl, a key factor will be the health of Fred Warner.

The star linebacker has arguably established himself as the best at his position, so when the 49ers lost him to injury during the season, it was a critical blow. Since then, the 49ers defense hasn’t been the same, but the team was still able to earn a wild-card spot in the postseason.

For the 49ers to beat the best in the NFC, they will have to navigate Warner’s absence on defense. But could Warner return earlier than expected during the playoffs? Here’s a breakdown.

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Will Fred Warner play in 2026 NFL playoffs?

49ers linebacker Fred Warner will not play in San Francisco's wild-card matchup against the Eagles, but there is a chance that he could play if the 49ers makes a deep run. Ahead of the 49ers' first-round game, Warner was seen running on the side during practice, a sign that his injury rehab has gone better than expected.

A lot would have to go right for Warner to return this season, but there is a bigger chance of it happening now than there was when he first got injured.

What happened to Fred Warner?

In an October game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Fred Warner suffered a serious ankle injury while making a tackle. Warner immediately needed attention, as the Buccaneers' medical team put an aircast on his leg and carted him off the field.

It was determined that Warner suffered a broken and dislocated ankle, which required surgery to repair. The expectation was that Warner would miss the rest of the season due to the surgery.

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When will Fred Warner return?

Warner's rehab so far has been ahead of schedule, to the point that he might be able to return this season if the 49ers make a deep playoff run. Normally, an injury of Warner's caliber would force him to miss the rest of the season, but San Francisco is hopeful he can actually beat the usual timetable.

"I think it's a thing that will remain to be seen," GM John Lynch said in December. "But I know he's putting his heart and soul and his incredible work ethic to work every single day in an effort to do that."

According to NFL Network, Warner returning this year would likely require the 49ers to make the Super Bowl, with an outside chance he could appear in an NFC Championship game.

Ankle injury recovery timeline

Warner suffered a broken and dislocated ankle injury, which typically requires a 4-6 month recovery. Warner had surgery in mid-October, which would put the earliest he could return as mid-February.

This year, the Super Bowl will be played on February 8, so a return would mean Warner had a fairly quick recovery, all things considered.

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