When Will Fred Warner Return?
Fred Warner has a real chance to return late in the 2025 NFL season, but only if the San Francisco 49ers make a deep postseason run to at least the NFC Championship Game and even then, any role would likely be limitedFred Warner’s earliest realistic window to return is the NFC Championship Game on January 25, 2026, with Super Bowl LX on February 8 at Levi’s Stadium viewed as the more likely target if he plays at all. Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) teased optimism on X with a playful “So… you’re saying there’s a chance?” reaction.
He underwent surgery on October 14 for a dislocated and fractured right ankle, an injury that typically carries a 4–6 month recovery timeline, so a late-January to early-February appearance would put him at the extremely aggressive end of that window. That is why every update around Warner comes with the same caveat: the door is open, but only a little, and only because his rehab has impressed people inside and outside the building
Is Fred Warner Coming Back?
Yes, there is a chance Fred Warner comes back this season, but nothing is guaranteed, and the 49ers are treating it as a long-shot bonus, not something they can bank on. Warner has said it plainly himself “I’ve got a chance. That’s the plan. We’re going to take this thing one day at a time… we’re on the right track” during NBC’s pregame coverage before the Week 17 win over the Chicago Bears, which is about as optimistic as a player in his spot can sound without overpromising. Coach Yac(@Coach_Yac) noted on X that Fred Warner was asked whether there’s a chance he could return at some point during the playoffs.
General manager John Lynch echoed that sentiment on KNBR, calling a return “possible” and emphasizing that no one in the building is comfortable ruling Warner out because of how relentless his work ethic has been in rehab.
That said, league insiders are still framing a return as “unlikely, though not impossible,” which feels like the sweet spot between fan hope and medical reality. There is a sense that if the 49ers do their part lock up the NFC’s No. 1 seed by beating Seattle in Week 18 and then push into late January, Warner will do everything in his power to meet them there, even if only for a handful of snaps that tilt a game.
Fred Warner Injury Update
Right now, Fred Warner is ahead of schedule in his recovery from a dislocated and fractured right ankle suffered in Week 6 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but still firmly in the “aggressive comeback” zone. The injury was initially labeled season-ending, yet recent reporting from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo says his rehab has progressed to the point where a late-playoff return is no longer being dismissed, especially if San Francisco reaches the NFC title game or Super Bowl LX.
Insiders have repeatedly stressed that any return would almost certainly be in “spot duty” only think limited packages, key downs, maybe a series here and there because pushing too hard could put Warner at significant risk of re-injury. Underdog NFL (@UnderdogNFL) reported on X, citing RapSheet, that Fred Warner could potentially return from his ankle injury for the NFC Championship Game or the Super Bowl.
Considering this is the first major injury of a career in which he has basically never come off the field, and that he even played through a fractured ankle last season, the staff is reportedly walking that line between respect for his competitiveness and the reality that one of the best linebackers in football is more valuable healthy over the long term than as a short-term superhero cameo.
Disclaimer
This article is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not medical advice, betting advice, or an official team statement. Player timelines can change quickly based on medical evaluations and team decisions. Always rely on official NFL and team updates for final status information.
