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The Seattle Seahawks may have just gotten the kind of “bad news” that can tilt a playoff rematch.
San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner, who has been sidelined since Oct. 12 with a fractured and dislocated right ankle, said Wednesday he hasn’t ruled out returning as soon as Saturday night against Seattle, one day after the 49ers opened his 21-day practice window, per ESPN’s Nick Wagoner.
49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said Jan. 13 the move was made with an eye toward a return for the NFC Championship Game — assuming the 49ers beat the Seahawks in the divisional round — but Warner’s comments made it clear the timeline might be accelerating.
“We’re taking it day by day,” Warner said. “I think they said last week they weren’t going to open my window, and then my window is now open.”
Opening a 21-day practice window is a procedural step that signals a player is close enough to begin practicing again. It doesn’t guarantee activation, but it does create real pressure on game-planning, because Seattle now has to prepare for the possibility the 49ers’ defensive captain is suddenly back in the middle.
Warner also pushed back on the idea that he’d be rushing the process.
“Everything up to this point has been in direct communication with the doctors, the trainers, everybody involved with my surgery,” Warner said. “Everything is scientifically based… I’m not going to go out there and put myself at an added risk if I’m not ready.”
For the Seahawks, the concern is obvious: Warner isn’t just “a linebacker.” He’s the type of player who can erase easy throws, close cutback lanes, and turn a normal third-and-5 into a punt. He’s proven his value over the course of his eight-year career with four Pro Bowls and four All-Pro team awards.
And the timing is brutal because the 49ers are also dealing with a major loss on the other side of the ball, tight end George Kittle landing on injured reserve with a torn right Achilles. Warner’s potential return would help soften that blow by raising San Francisco’s defensive floor.
The Seahawks will either face a defensive front that features a recently signed Eric Kendricks, or an All-Pro.
Even if Warner is active, Seattle won’t know what version of him is available until the 49ers show their hand late in the week. San Francisco is expected to ramp up to a higher-tempo practice Wednesday, then practice again Thursday before traveling to Seattle on Friday.
49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh said Warner’s presence immediately shows up, even in lighter work.
“Just pure energy,” Saleh said. “Fred is the ultimate energy giver… with higher tempo, it’ll be fun to get him out there and see him running around.”
That uncertainty matters for Seattle’s offensive plan. If Warner plays, the Seahawks have to account for a linebacker who can carry routes, blitz, and clean up runs sideline-to-sideline, which can change everything from protection calls to how aggressively Seattle attacks the middle of the field.
If Warner can’t go, the 49ers would again lean on veteran Kendricks at middle linebacker. San Francisco could also be shuffling elsewhere: Garret Wallow may start again depending on whether Dee Winters progresses after an ankle injury.
Warner said he feels “amazing” and emphasized he’s pushing to turn what once looked like a season-ending injury into a return with a Super Bowl run still on the table.
For Seattle, the takeaway is simple: this is no longer a “maybe later” situation. The Seahawks have to prepare as if the 49ers’ defensive heartbeat could be back, and if he is, it’s the kind of late-week development that can swing a rematch at the worst possible time.
