San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner has yet to practice this week. Whether he'll be on the field Friday—the team's final practice before hosting the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday—remains to be seen. This matchup marks the first of back-to-back divisional games for the Niners.
Warner exited last Sunday's game against the New England Patriots just before halftime after suffering an ankle injury. While he attempted to return in the third quarter, he ultimately couldn't continue. Despite the setback, Warner remains hopeful he can recover in time to suit up for this weekend's game.
"My plan is obviously to play," Warner said on Wednesday. "That's my hope. I'm just going to continue to listen to what the training room wants me to do and take it one day at a time."
Head coach Kyle Shanahan has expressed confidence in Warner and tight end George Kittle—who also hasn't practiced this week due to a rib injury—noting that both players could play Sunday even without practicing.
"They're two guys that, if they don't practice, they're still two guys who can definitely play on Sunday," Shanahan said on Thursday. "So, hopefully, they'll get there."
If Warner cannot go on Sunday, the 49ers must adjust their linebacker rotation. General manager John Lynch, during his regular Friday appearance on Bay Area radio station KNBR, hinted that the team may turn to a rookie.
"We've got to figure that out," Lynch said. "We're a little dinged up at linebacker, but there's always [a plan]. A guy who we kept, another seventh-rounder (Lynch had just been discussing QB Brock Purdy), Tatum Bethune. It's hard to play a rookie at Mike linebacker—Fred did it his rookie year—because you're effectively the signal-caller."
Bethune showed promise during training camp, even taking over defensive communication at times when Warner was off the field.
"We call it the green dot because they are the ones with the coach in their ear," Lynch explained. "Tatum is that type of guy. He's a green dot. He can grab a huddle, he can communicate, and the guy's a tackling machine. So Tatum is a guy who could see some action."
Additionally, Lynch pointed out that the 49ers recently re-signed linebacker Jalen Graham, another former seventh-round pick, off the Washington Commanders' practice squad.
"We've always liked Jalen since we drafted him, and we got him back in the fold," Lynch remarked. "We obviously have De'Vondre [Campbell] and Dee Winters, so we've got some depth there. We're a little banged up. [Demetrius] Flannigan-Fowles obviously would be in that mix as well, if healthy. He's battling a calf injury as well.
"So, we'll see where it plays out. But you've got to prepare for everything, and we'll see on Fred as well."
You can listen to Lynch's entire interview below.
