Kawakami: The 49ers can honor Fred Warner by playing like he’s still out there (paywall) “Practically, I think the main result is that the 49ers understandably will be even more reluctant to give up premium
draft choices at the deadline to bolster their roster. That would be sensible if they knew they were one player away from a Super Bowl run — like Trey Hendrickson to replace Bosa.
But there’s nobody who can come close to replacing Warner and without Warner the 49ers won’t be a Super Bowl defense. They’re best-off keeping their draft picks to use for new potential stars and plugging backup Tatum Bethune into the spot and living with it, like they lived with him missing on a few plays Sunday.
Could the 49ers maybe think about selling off some excess assets? I think that’s possible. Not probable, but it’s an option.
If they lose a few games — starting with a home game against Atlanta on Sunday then road games in Houston and at the New York Giants right before the deadline — then I could see the 49ers considering moving a few players who aren’t in the plans for 2026.
I don’t expect Jennings to be a 49er next season, once he hits free agency next spring, and the flare-up with Shanahan on Sunday only underlines that thought. Could the 49ers get anything for him if they lose a few games?
What about Ji’Ayir Brown, who was suddenly plopped into the starting lineup on Sunday after going several weeks as a backup? Hey, what about Mac Jones, who threw two interceptions but was under fire all game and otherwise continued to look good enough to start somewhere?“
Loss of Fred Warner in Tampa changes everything for 49ers: ‘It’s heartbreaking’ (paywall)
“Warner told his teammates not to feel sorry for him … and he was in good spirits.
“He’s got a strong foundation and told us that he’s going to be okay and just that the standard doesn’t dip,” fullback Kyle Juszczyk said. “He has full confidence in Tatum (Bethune) going forward, and that even without him around, the standard needs to be the same. The leadership needs to be the same, we need to push each other all the same.”
Williams said Warner “will never let you see him down.”
“That’s Fred,” Williams said. “Even in the midst of what he’s going through, he wanted to address the team. He’s just that type of guy. I just pray for him to have a healthy and speedy recovery.”
49ers fall 30-19 to Bucs with Fred Warner hurt, Mac Jones ineffective (paywall)
“Niners teammate CJ West shakily raised both hands to either side of his helmet. Bucs wide receiver Tez Johnson covered his entire facemask as he turned away and signaled to the visitor’s sideline for help.
With 7:38 left in the first quarter, the game had only just begun. Both sides needed to carry on after Warner suffered his season-ending ankle injury. The 49ers tried. The Buccaneers were better equipped to do so as quarterback Baker Mayfield and company dealt the 49ers (4-2) a 30-19 loss, triggering a three-way tie atop the NFC West.“
What do the 49ers do now?
“An underrated issue with the 49ers’ defense is the rate at which they have busts in coverage. It has been glaring in every game this season, and it was especially apparent Sunday.
With Marques Sigle, Malik Mustapha, Renardo Green and Upton Stout, they have a potentially dynamic young secondary, all in their first or second years. But it’s not there yet. The communication is off, and the talent — even if apparent — isn’t enough to compensate in a Robert Saleh scheme that has leaned into more man-match and zone-match coverages that demand high-level communication.
What’s that going to look like without your quarterback on defense?“
Kyle Shanahan reveals what led to heated sideline exchange with Jauan Jennings
“”Just intense, competitve conversation between two people at the end of the second quarter, but we’re good,” Shanahan told reporters.
Jennings was asked about the bizarre exchange as well, but didn’t provide any insight into the matter and instead deferred comment to his coach.
“You’d have to ask him,” Jennings said.“
What we learned as Fred Warner injured in 49ers’ tough road loss to Buccaneers
“The 49ers believe they have good depth at linebacker. They do not need second-year pro Tatum Bethune to be Fred Warner. They just need him to be a solid player who can hold his own in the middle of Robert Saleh’s defense.”
