This week’s article could feasibly be a cut-and-paste of its Week 3 counterpart.
There I discussed the brutal reality of season-ending injuries following news of Nick Bosa’s torn ACL. The rollercoaster nature of an NFL season as a fan was also discussed.
Therefore, it feels somewhat apt that after the ecstasy of Week 5’s unexpected victory in LA, I find myself writing another very sombre column. Rollercoaster indeed.
Missing in my post-week-three article was mention of one crucial factor: Fred Warner.
I referenced the possibility – albeit unlikely – that Robert Saleh could repeat 2020’s feat, and lead a top five defense in the absence of Bosa. Fred Warner is why that remained a possibility. That possibility no longer exists.
Somehow, the 49ers have lost their two defensive stars to season-ending injuries barely a third of the way through the season. Bosa’s injury made a Super Bowl push unlikely, but possible.
Without Fred Warner, I do not believe that possibility remains. Warner’s season-ending ankle injury has crushed the 49ers’ hopes in 2025.
A true leader
Fred Warner is without doubt the emotional leader of the San Francisco 49ers. One only has to look at the impact his injury had on Sunday’s game in Tampa.
Once Warner had left the field, it genuinely looked as if the 49ers’ defensive players did not know what they were supposed to be doing. There were multiple blown coverages, and the 49ers barely got close to stopping Baker Mayfield the rest of the way.
Warner’s leadership is far from exclusively emotional, he is also the 49ers’ best defensive player. I would go further and suggest he is the best defensive player in the NFL.
He is also the best linebacker I have seen play for San Francisco. That is high praise indeed when you consider Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman came before him.
I believe Warner would have won the Defensive Player of the Year award in 2025 had he not got injured.
A final example of how Warner is an inspirational figure, he has only missed one game in his career to date. 121 games played, one missed through injury. That is all the more remarkable when you consider Warner’s aggressive playing style.
Personal impact
On the rare chance the rest of the piece has not yet made it clear, I am absolutely gutted about the loss of Warner.
The remainder of Sunday’s game felt inconsequential. I also feel far less excited about the 2025 NFL season.
The 49ers sans-Warner will be a shadow of their true ability. I imagine I was not the only 49ers fan considering why put ourselves through it on Sunday after yet another injury.
I can only imagine how Warner’s teammates and staff feel. Simply put, the 49ers have lost the one player they could not afford to lose, and the consequences for the rest of their season are dire.
