Fred Warner Injury Update Provided By 49ers' Lynch, Could LB Return for NFL Playoffs?

The San Francisco 49ers aren't ruling out a return for veteran linebacker Fred Warner during the NFL playoffs.

General manager John Lynch said Friday on KNBR (via Can Inman of the Bay Area News Group) that Warner's recovery from an ankle injury is advancing to a point where the team will reassess ahead of the postseason.

"Sources informed of Warner's situation say there is a chance that Warner's rehab could be going well enough for him to make a cameo in the NFC Championship Game if San Francisco is a participant or more likely Super Bowl LX, should it win the conference title. And even then, it would likely be in spot duty. Any early return might put him at risk of further injury," reported NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo on Saturday.

The four-time All-Pro suffered a dislocation of his right ankle in San Francisco's 30-19 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 6. The initial assumption was that his year was over.

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During the Dec. 11 episode of his Real Ones: The League podcast with Los Angeles Chargers safety Derwin James (via Taylor Wirth of NBC Sports Bay Area), Warner teased a possible 2025 comeback.

"It's a really exciting time. Like I said, I'm really excited about where it's at," he said of his rehab. "I hear all the chatter around the internet and everywhere asking, 'Is Fred doing to make it back for the playoffs?' ... Hey, I guess time will tell. Never say never. We shall see."

The 29-year-old has been an integral member of the Niners defense from the moment he entered the league in 2018. This year snapped his streak of seven straight seasons with 100-plus tackles to open his career.

San Francisco might be hitting its stride at the perfect time.

Coming out of a Week 14 bye, the offense scored 37 points in a win over the Tennessee Titans and then had 440 yards and 48 points in a victory over the Indianapolis Colts.

Sunday night's battle with the Chicago Bears is another opportunity for Kyle Shanahan's squad to make a statement.

If he's cleared to play, Warner would have to shake off some rust after missing months of action, but having him on the field would boost the defense in a big way.