{"id":7292,"date":"2026-08-20T11:37:01","date_gmt":"2026-08-20T11:37:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=7292"},"modified":"2026-08-20T11:37:01","modified_gmt":"2026-08-20T11:37:01","slug":"49ers-fred-warner-i-dont-have-to-be-like-oh-man-my-leg-is-throbbing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=7292","title":{"rendered":"49ers’ Fred Warner: ‘I don’t have to be like, oh man, my leg is throbbing’"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n

INGLEWOOD, Calif. \u2014 Not exactly hiding in plain sight is arguably the 49ers\u2019 best comeback story this season.<\/p>\n

Read more California county supervisors vote to end ICE, CBP use of county gun ranges \u2014 but sheriff says she\u2019ll still allow CBP<\/a><\/p>\n

That\u2019s not to minimize those of George Kittle, Nick Bosa, coach Kyle Shanahan, and more.<\/p>\n

As important and inspiring as any is the one camouflaged by Fred Warner\u2019s business-as-usual, ultra-fiery demeanor.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel back to myself again,\u201d Warner said after Tuesday\u2019s joint practice with the host Los Angeles Chargers. \u201cI don\u2019t have to constantly be like, \u2018Oh man, my leg is throbbing.\u2019 It\u2019s just regular football soreness at this point.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut when you don\u2019t play for over half a season, your body feels pretty fresh just to get to go out there and fly around.\u201d<\/p>\n

That includes hyping up the team huddle to start practice, punching at footballs cradled by running backs, and inciting as much violence as allowed in a non-tackle setting.<\/p>\n

Ten months ago, Warner\u2019s right ankle was fractured and pointing 90-degrees the wrong way, earning him a cart ride off Tampa Bay\u2019s field with 49ers\u2019 orthopedic surgeon Dr. Tim McAdams.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t tell you how thankful I am, honestly, of just how it recovered. I don\u2019t have to think about it much,\u201d Warner said. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t require any extra after-practice treatment. God is amazing in that way.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

Warner does not need this preseason \u2014 does anyone, really? \u2014 for a final test. Tonight\u2019s second exhibition against the Chargers at SoFi Stadium is needed more from a linebacker perspective to pick Warner backups from a deep unit, including Tatum Bethune, Nick Martin, Jaden Dugger, Garrett Wallow and Jalen Graham. Warner had positive things to say of each from last Thursday\u2019s preseason opener with the Titans.<\/p>\n

As for Warner himself, he already has come from, ahem, a land down under and reclaimed All-Pro Fred status three weeks ahead of the regular-season opener in Melbourne, Australia, where the Los Angeles Rams will host the 49ers at the 100,000-seat Melbourne Cricket Ground.<\/p>\n

Last time the Rams hosted the 49ers, Warner popped off his helmet and celebrated a walk-off, fourth-down tackle in overtime by the defense, the one he\u2019s commanded since 2018 as the Mike linebacker through five coordinator changes.<\/p>\n

As training camp began 3 1\/2 weeks ago, 49ers general manager John Lynch anticipated Warner wouldn\u2019t tip-toe into it. \u201cFred, you can\u2019t hold that guy back, and he wants to be full throttle, and I think he will be,\u201d Lynch said.<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

Warner called Tuesday\u2019s joint practice with the host Chargers another \u201cgood test\u201d for he and the defense, despite Justin Herbert\u2019s multiple completions deep against the secondary. The 49ers\u2019 defensive highlight came when Warner, of course, punched a ball free from tight end David Njoku.<\/p>\n

A week earlier, Warner was a tempest with practice-field banter that intentionally riled up Titans quarterback Cam Ward, all in an effort to teach the second-year star how to maintain his composure and lead under new coach Robert Saleh, Warner\u2019s former defensive coordinator.<\/p>\n

That mentorship role looms larger among the 49ers, however.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve got two of the best backers in the game to learn from,\u201d Martin said of Warner and Dre Greenlaw. \u201cI\u2019m super blessed to have them leading us and I\u2019m soaking up all their wisdom. They\u2019re super genuine guys and love to work, and so do I.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more Schiff: How Democrats can repair the broken Supreme Court<\/a><\/p>\n

Warner insists he\u2019s more of a lead-by-example captain, that \u201cwords are cheap,\u201d even though there is no better orator on the 49ers.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter what I\u2019ve done in this league or what Dre\u2019s done,\u201d Warner said. \u201cWhat makes us great is our hunger for the game and wanting to prove ourselves every day. That feeds the rest of the group. It\u2019s a hungry group.\u201d<\/p>\n

Warner was so hungry to return to the 49ers last season that he was poised to do so if they upset Seattle in the divisional round and reached the NFC Championship Game.<\/p>\n

He took an unusual road back from his Oct. 12 ankle fracture and dislocation. He took up swimming, at the nearby watering hole of San Jose State\u2019s picturesque pool.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was really helpful, pumping the ankle when I was unable to walk and getting back in (to the pool) to get the cardio in,\u201d Warner said. \u201cThat was a big reason why I came back in the playoffs as quick as I did, in as good a shape as I was. The pool helped a ton.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAll that hard work only made it better as he entered this offseason,\u201d Lynch said July 25. \u201c\u2026 He basically was a healthy player just training this offseason. Obviously (he is) giving some care to the ankle, but that is in his mind behind him, and that\u2019s a testament to the type of worker he is.\u201d<\/p>\n

The swim sessions are on hold. \u201cRight now, it\u2019s all about just \u2019ball,\u201d added Warner, whose 947 career tackles are three shy of the 49ers\u2019 all-time record held by Pro Football Hall of Famer Patrick Willis.<\/p>\n

When it comes to the 49ers\u2019 defensive potency, their front revolves around the ACL comebacks of Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams. But the addition of defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa is already looking great in the eyes of the man behind him, Warner.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love the mindset, the tenacity, the physicality he brings to the position,\u201d Warner said, after Odighizuwa repeatedly pressured Chargers quarterbacks Tuesday. \u201cWe know how important it is to get pressure up front on the quarterback and in the run game, so Osa is going to continue to get better.\u201d<\/p>\n

While Warner\u2019s range in pass coverage has somewhat revolutionized his position (56 pass defenses), he\u2019s still got moves, illustrated by his ability to deflect and nearly intercept a Brock Purdy pass or two in mid-range coverage.<\/p>\n

Since 1994, no 49er has forced more fumbles than Warner with 17, plus one in 12 playoff games. \u201cIt\u2019s beyond the point of me trying to get punchouts,\u201d Warner said. \u201cIt\u2019s: How can I be infectious to the team and have it on their minds?\u201d<\/p>\n

Last year, teammate Christian McCaffrey won the AP NFL Comeback Player of the Year award. This week, Warner was listed ninth among 10 candidates on NFL.com, sandwiched between two quarterbacks from the same team, Atlanta\u2019s Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa.<\/p>\n

NOTE:<\/strong> More regular starters are expected to play for the 49ers tonight than in last Thursday\u2019s 19-13 preseason-opening loss to the Titans, with coach Kyle Shanahan noting there is a \u201cgood chance\u201d quarterback Brock Purdy makes a cameo. Running back Kaelon Black is expected to debut after missing last game and 2 \u00bd weeks because of an adductor injury.<\/p>\n

Read more Walters: How California\u2019s primary election reflects the perils facing the national Democratic Party<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Linebacker Fred Warner’s complete recovery from last season’s ankle injury has been on full display through 49ers training camp.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7291,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7292","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports"],"yoast_head":"\n49ers’ Fred Warner: ‘I don’t have to be like, oh man, my leg is throbbing’ - Next City Digest<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=7292\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"49ers’ Fred Warner: ‘I don’t have to be like, oh man, my leg is throbbing’ - Next City Digest\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Linebacker Fred Warner's complete recovery from last season's ankle injury has been on full display through 49ers training camp.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=7292\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Next City Digest\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-08-20T11:37:01+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"admin\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"admin\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/?p=7292#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/?p=7292\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"admin\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/13065d40d633843429ac57d4e5c06f9b\"},\"headline\":\"49ers’ Fred Warner: ‘I don’t have to be like, oh man, my leg is throbbing’\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-08-20T11:37:01+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/?p=7292\"},\"wordCount\":1175,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/?p=7292#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/94c64d7c959462a14b0af0e79b6777c8-scaled.webp\",\"articleSection\":[\"Sports\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/?p=7292#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/?p=7292\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/?p=7292\",\"name\":\"49ers’ Fred Warner: ‘I don’t have to be like, oh man, my leg is throbbing’ - Next City Digest\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/?p=7292#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/?p=7292#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/94c64d7c959462a14b0af0e79b6777c8-scaled.webp\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-08-20T11:37:01+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/13065d40d633843429ac57d4e5c06f9b\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/?p=7292#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/?p=7292\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/?p=7292#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/94c64d7c959462a14b0af0e79b6777c8-scaled.webp\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/94c64d7c959462a14b0af0e79b6777c8-scaled.webp\",\"width\":2560,\"height\":1707},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/?p=7292#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"49ers’ Fred Warner: ‘I don’t have to be like, oh man, my leg is throbbing’\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/\",\"name\":\"Next City Digest\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/13065d40d633843429ac57d4e5c06f9b\",\"name\":\"admin\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/50b1ad2e498f523425ee0a8cc5180a210646db1622662a3d56cc405d3e0c346a?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/50b1ad2e498f523425ee0a8cc5180a210646db1622662a3d56cc405d3e0c346a?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/50b1ad2e498f523425ee0a8cc5180a210646db1622662a3d56cc405d3e0c346a?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"admin\"},\"sameAs\":[\"http:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\"],\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/?author=1\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"49ers’ Fred Warner: ‘I don’t have to be like, oh man, my leg is throbbing’ - Next City Digest","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=7292","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"49ers’ Fred Warner: ‘I don’t have to be like, oh man, my leg is throbbing’ - Next City Digest","og_description":"Linebacker Fred Warner's complete recovery from last season's ankle injury has been on full display through 49ers training camp.","og_url":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=7292","og_site_name":"Next City Digest","article_published_time":"2026-08-20T11:37:01+00:00","author":"admin","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"admin","Est. reading time":"6 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=7292#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=7292"},"author":{"name":"admin","@id":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/#\/schema\/person\/13065d40d633843429ac57d4e5c06f9b"},"headline":"49ers’ Fred Warner: ‘I don’t have to be like, oh man, my leg is throbbing’","datePublished":"2026-08-20T11:37:01+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=7292"},"wordCount":1175,"commentCount":0,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=7292#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/94c64d7c959462a14b0af0e79b6777c8-scaled.webp","articleSection":["Sports"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=7292#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=7292","url":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=7292","name":"49ers’ Fred Warner: ‘I don’t have to be like, oh man, my leg is throbbing’ - Next City Digest","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=7292#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=7292#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/94c64d7c959462a14b0af0e79b6777c8-scaled.webp","datePublished":"2026-08-20T11:37:01+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/#\/schema\/person\/13065d40d633843429ac57d4e5c06f9b"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=7292#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=7292"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=7292#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/94c64d7c959462a14b0af0e79b6777c8-scaled.webp","contentUrl":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/94c64d7c959462a14b0af0e79b6777c8-scaled.webp","width":2560,"height":1707},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=7292#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"49ers’ Fred Warner: ‘I don’t have to be like, oh man, my leg is throbbing’"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/","name":"Next City Digest","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/#\/schema\/person\/13065d40d633843429ac57d4e5c06f9b","name":"admin","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/50b1ad2e498f523425ee0a8cc5180a210646db1622662a3d56cc405d3e0c346a?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/50b1ad2e498f523425ee0a8cc5180a210646db1622662a3d56cc405d3e0c346a?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/50b1ad2e498f523425ee0a8cc5180a210646db1622662a3d56cc405d3e0c346a?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"admin"},"sameAs":["http:\/\/nextcitydigest.com"],"url":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?author=1"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7292","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7292"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7292\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/7291"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7292"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7292"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7292"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}