49ers star linebacker was carted off the field with his right leg in an air cast early in San Francisco’s game against Tampa Bay.
One of the NFL’s top defenders — and the heart and soul of the San Francisco 49ers defense — suffered what appears to be a significant, potentially season-ending injury.
49ers star linebacker Fred Warner was carted off the field with an air cast on his right leg with just under eight minutes left in the first quarter of San Francisco’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.
He was later ruled out of the game with an ankle injury.
“It sucks losing Fred. We know that. We’ll deal with that after the game,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said during an interview at halftime on the CBS broadcast.
As the third quarter began in the contest, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reported that Warner suffered a dislocated right ankle and will meet with doctors to discuss a recovery timetable.
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
Warner, the All-Pro linebacker who played collegiately at BYU, has been extremely reliable for the 49ers. According to X user SFdata9ers, Warner has only missed one game due to injury in his eight NFL seasons.
Fred Warner has missed only one game in his entire career so far - Week 13 against Seattle in 2021. pic.twitter.com/UB4DZxQeN0
— SFdata9ers🏈📊 (@sfdata9ers) October 12, 2025
Warner was hurt on a first-and-10 play when he attempted to take down Buccaneers running back Rachaad White, but 49ers safety Ji’Ayir Brown rolled into the back of Warner’s right ankle at the end of the play.
Last year, Warner revealed in late November that he had played through a fractured ankle he suffered in Week 4.
What could a dislocated ankle mean for recovery time for Warner?
One recent example reveals the potential for Warner to not just be sidelined him for the remainder of the 2025 season but perhaps into 2026 as well, depending on the severity of the injury.
In Week 7 last season, Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin suffered a dislocated ankle and missed the remainder of the season.
He faced an 11-month recovery and returned to action in Week 4 two weeks weeks ago, only to suffer a fibula injury that sidelined him again.
Category: General Sports
