Is there a chance the 49ers’ star defender could return this season after those prospects initially seemed bleak following his injury?
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Ahead of San Francisco’s critical Week 17 home matchup against the Chicago Bears on Sunday night, Warner gave a positive update when asked if he could return to the field this season.
“I have a chance,” Warner said during NBC’s pregame coverage. “That’s the plan, so we’re going to take this one day at a time. There are a lot of different steps, and you have to cross T’s, you have to put dots to get there, but we’re on the right path.”
During the game’s broadcast, NBC said Warner is targeting a possible return for the NFC Championship Game.
This year, Super Bowl LX will take place at the 49ers’ home field, Levi’s Stadium, on February 8.
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The NFC and AFC championship games will take place on January 25.
San Francisco, which clinched a playoff berth, entered Sunday holding the No. 5 seed in the NFC playoff race, but with a chance to win the NFC’s top seed — and a first-round playoff bye — if it wins.
Step 1 to winning was accomplished Sunday night, when San Francisco rallied to beat the Bears in a 42-38 thriller.
The 49ers retook the lead on Jauan Jennings’ 38-yard touchdown reception with 2:15 left. That was Brock Purdy’s fifth touchdown, and third passing touchdown, of the game.
Chicago drove and had a chance to win, but Caleb Williams’ pass on second-and-goal from the 2-yard line as time expired fell incomplete.
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Now, San Francisco will host the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday at 6 pm MST on ABC and ESPN. The winner will win not only the NFC West division title, but also the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
Warner’s positive update corroborates a report from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo on Saturday.
The pair reported that even if Warner were able to appear in the playoffs, he is expected to be a limited participant.
“Sources informed about the Warner situation say there is a possibility that Warner’s rehab is going well enough that he could make a cameo in the NFC Championship Game if San Francisco participates or, more likely, in Super Bowl LX on February 8, 2026, should they win the conference title,” Rapoport and Garafolo wrote.
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“And even then, he would likely be in the workplace, as any early return could put Warner at risk of further injury.”
Warner has played in the Super Bowl twice with San Francisco, losing to the Kansas City Chiefs in both appearances.
During a radio appearance this week on KNBR radio, 49ers general manager John Lynch said he wouldn’t be surprised if Warner could successfully return to the field if San Francisco makes a deep postseason run.
“I think it’s something that remains to be seen,” Lynch told the radio station, “but I know he’s putting his heart and his soul and his incredible work ethic to work every day in an effort to achieve this.”
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Warner, the former BYU standout linebacker, underwent surgery on Oct. 14 for an injury that was expected to take 4 to 6 months to recover from, according to NFL.com.
It is the first major injury of Warner’s career. Since entering the league as a third-round pick in 2018, he had only missed one game due to injury, back in 2021. Last season, that included playing with a broken ankle.
If Warner were to return at any point during the postseason, his recovery time would be on the short end of the recovery window.
“Everything happens for a reason,” Warner recently told The Ryen Rusillo Show.
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“God has a plan. I was telling the kids when they were taking me and feeling sorry for me, like, ‘I’ll be good.'”