San Francisco has been dealing with injuries throughout its roster this year.
How long is Fred Warner out? Ankle injury timeline, return date, latest updates on 49ers star LB originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The have had to deal with a plethora of injuries this season on both sides of the ball, and that trend continued with one of their most important players.
Linebacker Fred Warner, who has been one of the most durable players in the NFL, went down in the first half against the with what appeared to be a serious lower-body injury. Since his rookie season in 2018, Warner had missed just one game in his career, playing and starting in 121 of 122 possible contests.
Here's a breakdown of how long Warner will likely be out for the 49ers.
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Fred Warner injury update
In the 49ers Week 6 game against the Buccaneers, linebacker Fred Warner had to be carted off the field with a right ankle injury. It appeared that Tampa Bay running back Rachaad White fell into Warner while he was being tackled on the play.
OMG Fred Warner got rolled up on by Brown (graphic)
— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) October 12, 2025
Fred Warner is carted off pic.twitter.com/4zqTDxO4dh
Warner went down on a play and immediately grabbed his leg before medical staff came out to check on him. Warner needed the medical staff to put an air cast on his ankle before he would get carted off the field for further evaluation.
The 49ers ruled Warner out for the game immediately after the injury occurred, which is a bad sign for his chances of returning soon.
#49ers Injury Update: LB Fred Warner has an ankle injury and he's out for the remainder of the game.
— Briana (@brianajeannel) October 12, 2025
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How long is Fred Warner out?
The Athletic's Dianna Russini reports that Warner suffered a dislocated ankle injury, but it is unclear exactly how much time he will miss.
NEWS: 49ers LB Fred Warner suffered a dislocated right ankle Sunday vs. the Buccaneers, per source.
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) October 12, 2025
San Francisco’s All-Pro linebacker will meet with doctors to determine how much time he will miss. pic.twitter.com/KQoWfyITLk
At the very least, Warner will have to miss a good chunk of the season, with the possibility that he is out for the year. If Warner needs surgery on his ankle, then there is a good chance he would need to miss most, if not all of the rest of the season.
MORE: 49ers injury history timeline
49ers LB depth chart
| SAM | MIKE | WILL | |
| 1st Team | Luke Gifford | Fred Warner | Dee Winters |
| 2nd Team | Curtis Robinson | Tatum Bethune | Nick Martin |
Warner's injury likely means that Tatum Bethune will take over as the MIKE linebacker for the 49ers' defense. San Francisco lost Dre Greenlaw to the in free agency and has been dealing with injuries all over the defense.
Category: Football
