San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner, after signing a three-year, $63 million extension this offseason to make him the highest paid linebacker in the league, suffered a dislocated and fractured ankle in a Week 6 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Since then, the 49ers have struggled to replace Warner’s play on the defensive side of the field, with an injury to Tatum Bethune not helping them in that department.
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While Warner’s injuries will likely cost him the rest of the season, many are still holding out hope that the four-time All-Pro returns to Robert Saleh’s unit before the end of the season. Included in that group of hopeful onlookers is 49ers general manager John Lynch, who spoke about Warner’s rehab and recovery on a recent episode of “49ers Talk” with NBC Sports’ Matt Maiocco.
“Well, medically, no, I mean, the docs say it’s probably on the wrong side of the range that they would suggest,” Lynch said. “But even the docs with Fred say, ‘You know what, let him rehab as if he’s coming back for something and we’ll see where he’s at. And so we’ll follow the orders of the doctors. They’ll control this, but Fred is going to push the limits, and he is doing everything possible. He lives in a hyperbaric chamber [for] two, three hours a day. He’s here all the time. He’s unbelievable, this guy. It’s what made him who he is.”
Warner’s doing everything he can to return to the field to help his team in 2025, and with San Francisco currently projected to make the postseason, the window may be a bit more open than it could’ve been. However, it would still take an impressive effort from the 29-year-old.
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This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: 49ers GM details Fred Warner’s impressive rehab efforts to return soon