The San Francisco 49ers' 2025 season has already been one injury-related gut punch after another, but Week 6's showdown with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers provided the biggest gut punch of all.
All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner, the unquestioned leader and top player on the Niners defense, suffered a gruesome ankle injury that ends a season that was trending toward him being named the Defensive Player of the Year.
Warner's loss completely alters San Francisco's trajectory for the rest of the year. While it likely could have absorbed another season-ending loss to defensive end Nick Bosa, Warner's departure is a setback that could already have both general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan thinking more about 2026 than the rest of this season.
Especially when taking into account how long it'll take for the star backer to make his way back onto the field.
Fred Warner's injury recovery timeline is going to be lengthy
Not long after it was confirmed Warner suffered both a dislocated and fractured ankle against the Bucs, orthopedic surgeon Nirav Pandya offered up some insight on 95.7 The Game and suggested a "best case" scenario would be a four- to five-month recovery.
Most likely, though, Warner would need at least six months.
"Best case scenario, if the ligaments aren't that badly injured, you fix the bones, you can look at four to five months. That's being super optimistic. In general, with these injuries, most NFL players land around six months [to return]"@DrNiravPandya gives his prognosis of… pic.twitter.com/Dvyiy4s4cY
— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) October 13, 2025
Speaking to reporters the Monday after Warner's injury, Shanahan seemed to go with an abbreviated timeline, suggesting three months as the recovery period.
"Usually, things like this are around three months," Shanahan said. "But I haven't asked all the questions you guys are asking me yet. But I assume he'll be good for the offseason workouts and stuff like that."
That's optimistic, even if it confirms Warner will miss the remainder of the 2025 campaign, including whatever playoff run (if any) San Francisco encounters.
But the bigger problem is trying to anticipate just how ready the perennial All-Pro will be for offseason workouts, and it's fair to wonder whether or not he'll be at 100 percent when Shanahan and the 49ers are trying to construct their 2026 roster.
If there are any doubts, the Niners will assuredly need to alter their roster-building plans, and that could create unforeseen challenges when considering the plethora of other needs that'll have to be addressed come spring.
Fortunately, Warner has already pledged to having a "legendary" recovery, and it's probably best to take him for his word.
Still, the uncertainties that lay ahead create plenty of doubt and worry for both the fans and front office.