TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Four-time All-Pro wide receiver Fred Warner will need season-ending surgery after a gruesome ankle injury in the first quarter of San Francisco’s loss to Tampa Bay on Sunday.
Warner’s right ankle appeared to be turned sideways after two players fell on him at the end of the play. Coach Kyle Shanahan said after the 30-19 loss that Warner dislocated and fractured his ankle and would need surgery.
“Anytime you lose one of your best players, who’s also a senior leader, it’s obviously a tough blow,” Shanahan said. “I feel bad for Fred now. He was in good spirits. He had a good foundation.”
The entire 49ers team came to the field to see Warner before he left the field with an air splint on his ankle.
“It’s heartbreaking,” Christian McCaffrey said.
The injury-plagued 49ers entered the game without quarterback Brock Purdy, star edge rusher Nick Bosa, All-Pro tight end George Kittle and several other key players. Despite all their injuries, the Niners are 4-2 and tied for first place in the NFC West.
The 28-year-old Warner was first-team All-Pro three straight seasons and four of the last five, making the Pro Bowl in each of those four seasons. Warner’s 947 career tackles are second most on the team behind Patrick Willis’ 950 as records go back to 2000.
Warner has missed just one game in his eight-year career, and will miss 2021 with a hamstring injury. He played most of last season with a broken ankle and still earned All-Pro honors.
Warner signed a three-year, $63 million extension this offseason, keeping him under contract with the team through the 2029 season.
“It was disgusting,” Bucs coach Todd Bowles said. “One of the best players in the league and a great guy. This breaks your heart. I hope he recovers quickly.”
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