The San Francisco 49ers believe they have the right mindset despite losing four consecutive games. The team isn't dwelling on their misfortune. Instead, it is focused on the task at hand — beating the Chicago Bears on Sunday.
"Any time you're going through sort of a rut like this, it's easy to kind of get down on yourselves," linebacker Fred Warner told Damon Bruce and Ray Ratto on 95.7 The Game today. "But I feel like I've been really impressed with how the guys have handled themselves, coming into work today, on a Wednesday, and guys really got after it. I don't think anybody is hanging their head or feeling sorry for themselves.
"We're just trying to find a way to win. We're trying to find that one W. It's all about the Chicago Bears and nothing else right now. We're searching for just one win. And once we get one, we'll find a way to get another one. We just need one. That's it."
There were high expectations for the 49ers heading into the season. Even after winning their first two games, the team's flaws were noticeable. Now, they sit at 2-4. The NFC West title is likely out of reach. If the 49ers don't turn things around quickly, they can wave goodbye to their playoff hopes too.
Injuries are once again a storyline. The roster was devastated by them last season. While not as severe this year, they are having an impact. However, no one is using that as an excuse.
"It's not something you can really pinpoint a finger on," Warner said when asked to explain the team's current slump. "Obviously, bad luck with a lot of it. But like you said, next man up. We talk about 2019, there was constantly a rotation going on too. [There] wasn't just a week where we had everybody available and good to go. There was guys throughout that entire year who had to step up big time in some big games and make a play for us.
"It's just going to be more of the same going forward, and for all of time, an eternity in football. It's a physical game. You lose guys, but obviously, we've got to try to stay as healthy as possible, and guys have got to step up."
Much of the blame has been placed on quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, with fans clamoring to see if a switch to rookie Trey Lance might provide a spark.
"First of all, we're not going to put blame on anybody," Warner said. "But it for sure doesn't just fall on the quarterback. It is a team effort in everything that we do.
"I'm always going to ride behind Jimmy. I'll ride behind whoever we're rolling with, but I'm always going to ride behind Jimmy. I have from the day I stepped foot on this team. He's handled himself so well throughout the year. He's always been criticized, but it doesn't matter to him. He doesn't listen to the noise. He's always going to put his head down and work.
"I love the way that Trey's been working and developing really well. With whoever's out there, it doesn't matter. It's a team effort. The defense has to play much better to help the offense. It's never going to be put on just one position."
You can listen to the entire conversation with Warner below.
