Imagine a star player's career hanging in the balance right before your eyes—that's the gut-wrenching reality for San Francisco 49ers fans as their defensive powerhouse faces a potential season-ending setback.
By Saad Yousuf, Vic Tafur, Matt Barrows, and Dianna Russini
The San Francisco 49ers took yet another hard hit to their already battered defense when standout linebacker Fred Warner had to be wheeled off the field on a cart during the opening quarter of their matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. A reliable league insider confirmed that Warner endured a dislocated ankle, a painful injury where the bones in the joint shift out of their normal position, often requiring medical intervention to realign.
NEWS FLASH: 49ers LB Fred Warner suffered a dislocated right ankle on Sunday against the Buccaneers, according to a source.
San Francisco's elite linebacker is scheduled to consult with medical professionals to gauge the extent of his absence. pic.twitter.com/KQoWfyITLk (https://t.co/KQoWfyITLk)
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) October 12, 2025 (https://twitter.com/DMRussini/status/1977495725320622260?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
During the play, teammate Ji’Ayir Brown unintentionally rolled onto the back of Warner's ankle while attempting to bring down Buccaneers running back Rachaad White, causing the ankle to twist at an unnatural angle. Fellow players on the turf signaled urgently to the bench for medical help, and Warner's right leg was immobilized in an aircast before he was transported off. The injury was severe enough that he was promptly ruled out for the rest of the game due to the ankle issue.
Despite this blow, the 49ers' defense showed resilience immediately following Warner's departure, with rookie Mykel Williams recording a sack on third down. However, the team entered halftime with a 20-16 deficit.
“We have to pull together,” declared 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan during a break interview with CBS's Tracy Wolfson. “It's awful losing Fred like this—we all feel it. But we'll address that after the game. For now, we've got two quarters left, and I need everyone's full effort.”
Tatum Bethune stepped in to fill Warner's role at middle linebacker alongside Dee Winters. Meanwhile, third-round draft pick Nick Martin, who sat out again this Sunday, could potentially see some action in upcoming games.
The 49ers are already operating with a depleted defensive lineup, having lost star pass rusher Nick Bosa for the entire season due to a torn ACL just a few weeks ago. To make matters worse, the offense is grappling with numerous injuries, including starting quarterback Brock Purdy (a toe ailment), tight end George Kittle (hamstring strain), and several key receivers.
Warner has been the rock-solid anchor of the 49ers' defense ever since his selection in the third round of the 2017 draft. He earned his initial first-team All-Pro honor back in 2020 and has repeated that feat each of the last three years
