Barrows: 49ers LB Fred Warner wants to return during the playoffs

The San Francisco 49ers have been ravaged by injuries this season, but could an improbable return for linebacker Fred Warner be on the table?

During Tuesday morning’s edition of The Carmichael Dave Show with Jason Ross, The Athletic’s Matt Barrows joined the show to share injury updates on several players (including Warner), lay out the road ahead for the 49ers as they push for the postseason, and much more.

Be sure to listen to and watch the entire interview with The Athletic’s Matt Barrows right here or on the Sactown Sports 1140 YouTube page.

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Topics Discussed

• Was the 49ers’ BYE week at a strange time this year?
• “They’ve never had a BYE this late before.”
• Are there any injured 49ers players who could return after the BYE week?
• Barrows says kicker Eddie Piñeiro is in line to be activated, possibly as soon as this weekend.
• Could a return for star 49ers LB Fred Warner (ankle) be on the table for this season?
• “I guarantee you he is gunning for a return during playoffs… He’s making progress.”
• More injury updates & laying out the road ahead for the 49ers

Could Fred Warner Return In The Playoffs?

After suffering a devastating ankle injury in Week 6, a return this season for Fred Warner didn’t look likely.

Warner, who fractured and dislocated his right ankle while facing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, is “gunning” for a return during the postseason, says Matt Barrows.

“I guarantee you he is gunning for a return during the playoffs,” Barrows said. “I saw him in the locker room yesterday. No crutches, no boot, nothing. He’s making progress.”

Barrows said he spoke with several orthopedic surgeons about the potential timeline for Fred Warner and that the consensus was that people typically need 4 months — 16 weeks — to recover.

If Warner returns during the playoffs, he would be in line to return sometime in the middle of the NFL Playoffs.

“I think it’s a definite possibility,” Barrows said of Warner during his interview with Carmichael Dave and Jason Ross.

Listen to The Carmichael Dave Show with Jason Ross from 6 – 10 a.m. PST, Monday through Friday, on Sactown Sports 1140.

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The San Francisco 49ers announced that linebacker Curtis Robinson has been selected as the team’s winner for the 2025 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award presented by Nationwide for the second consecutive year.

The Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award, presented by Nationwide, is the league’s most prestigious honor, recognizing players who excel on the field and demonstrate a commitment to making a positive impact beyond the game.

Inspired by his mother’s career as a college professor, Robinson understands the importance of ensuring equal access to quality education, regardless of socioeconomic background.

A passionate advocate for the 49ers Foundation’s mission to empower and educate youth, Robinson has been a consistent presence, joining Title I students in the 49ers EDU classroom as they explore STEAM concepts through football.

Recognizing education as a key pillar of social justice, Robinson serves on the 49ers Social Justice Player Committee, helping direct over $1 million in team funding to community organizations and mentoring youth from those partners.

Supporting the NFL’s Inspire Change initiative, he also read to more than 150 elementary students and helped distribute over 1,000 books promoting diversity and inclusion through the team’s Read for Justice program.

Guided by the influence of his educator mother and coach father, Robinson values mentorship deeply. He works with Fresh Lifelines for Youth, mentoring teens impacted by the justice system, volunteers with Drive 4 Change in Oakland, teaching golf and promoting life skills through sport, and has joined the team’s annual visit to San Quentin State Rehabilitation Center to meet with justice-impacted individuals and their families.

In 2025, Robinson used his Walter Payton Man of the Year $40,000 donation to help fund a new Mobilize Love truck that provides free haircuts in low-income communities.

The truck will be used across the Bay Area to meet the needs of children and families in meaningful, tangible ways. This December, he hosted a community event at Ile Omode School in Oakland, where over 100 students enjoyed a warm meal and received haircuts from the Mobilize Love truck. Complimentary eye exams were also provided by Zenni and Safeway provided $250 gift cards to each family at the school.

49ers LB Curtis Robinson named team’s Walter Payton Man of the Year winner

Upcoming San Francisco 49ers Schedule

• Sunday, December 7th – BYE WEEK
• Sunday, December 14th – vs. Tennessee Titans – 1:25 PM PT
• Monday, December 22nd – @ Indianapolis Colts – 5:15 PM PT
• Sunday, December 28th – vs. Chicago Bears – 5:20 PM PT
• TBD (Flex Game) – vs. Seattle Seahawks

Listen to all San Francisco 49ers games right here on Sactown Sports 1140 AM!

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