TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Four-time All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner will need season-ending surgery following a gruesome ankle injury in the first quarter of San Francisco’s loss to Tampa Bay on Sunday.
Warner’s right ankle appeared to turn sideways after a couple players fell into him at the end of a play. Coach Kyle Shanahan said after the that Warner dislocated and broke his ankle and will need surgery.
“Any time you lose one of your best players, also a huge leader, obviously it’s a huge blow,” Shanahan said. “I feel bad for Fred right now. He was in good spirits. He has a good foundation.”
The entire 49ers sideline came onto the field to see Warner before he left the field with an air cast on his ankle.
The injury-riddled 49ers entered the game without quarterback Brock Purdy, star edge rusher Nick Bosa, All-Pro tight end George Kittle and several other key players. Despite all their injuries, the Niners are 4-2 and tied for first in the NFC West.
The 28-year-old Warner has been a first-team All-Pro three straight seasons and four of the last five, making the Pro Bowl in each of those four seasons. Warner’s 947 career tackles are the second-most for the team to Patrick Willis’ 950 as far as records go back to 2000.
Warner has missed only one game in his eight-year career, sitting out in 2021 with a hamstring injury. He played most of last season with a broken bone in his ankle and still earned All-Pro honors.
Warner signed a three-year extension worth $63 million in the offseason, keeping him under contract with the team through the 2029 season.
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