There is uncertainty around Fred Warner’s status for Week 5 after the All-Pro linebacker suffered an ankle injury in the San Francisco 49ers’ dominant win over the New England Patriots in Week 4.
What is clear is that the leader of the 49er defense is enjoying, even by his standards, an exceptional start to the season, which continued in the first half against the Patriots with a 45-yard pick six.
Through four games, Warner has two interceptions, three forced fumbles, a sack, a quarterback hit and a tackle for loss to his name.
Warner, despite sitting out the second half with his injury, received the highest grade of any 49ers player from Pro Football Focus, earning a 96.6.
Though often criticized, the PFF grade is in this case reflective of a performance in which Warner registered seven tackles, tied for the second-most on the team, and registered four stops that represented a failure for the New England offense.
Warner is comfortably PFF’s highest-graded linebacker heading into Week 4’s doubleheader of Monday games, tallying 14 stops in total while allowing a passer rating when targeted of just 17.6.
Asked if he is playing even better this year than in his first-team All-Pro season of 2023, Warner replied: “I’m just trying to do my best, whatever that takes for the team, honestly. The play today – I’ve been talking about that for weeks now. Coach [assistant head coach defense Brandon] Staley does a great job in our ball meeting, and he’s made it an emphasis that if you score on defense, you have about a 100 percent chance of winning the game.
“So, I’m like, we’ve got to score on D and for us to get that play, obviously we won, and we’ve got to keep it going now.”
Warner’s interception came on a play on which he initially lined up as if he was going to rush the passer. He dropped out of the blitz look and provided the most spectacular demonstration of his instincts by reading the eyes of quarterback Jacoby Brissett and the routes of Ja’Lynn Polk and Hunter Henry in front of him before recognizing Brissett was about to throw the in-breaker to Tyquan Thornton behind him.
Warner dropped slightly into the throwing lane and made a leaping grab. When he regained his feet, he still had the energy to take it all the way back to put the 49ers up 13-0.
Pressed on how that stunning play came about, he said: “Lots of experience. You know where to be at the right spot if you kind of understand route concepts regardless of the cover responsibility. And usually, if you’re in the middle of the field around the hashes, good things can happen.”
Good things continue to happen for Warner, his already significant number of splash plays reward for the relentless and meticulous way in which he gets ready for each game.
“Warner made that play on Monday and Wednesday,” said safety Ji’Ayir Brown.
“His preparation is second to none. I don’t think anyone prepares throughout the week like Warner. You guys just saw it on game day but he’s been doing that all week.”
With a little under of a quarter of the season played, Warner has already built an impressive case for Defensive Player of the Year, and the last 49er to win that award believes his resume is only going to get stronger.
“He’s always played at the highest of levels,” said Nick Bosa.
“Sometimes things come your way in a game and he’s taken advantage of all those opportunities. So, obviously his stats are crazy right now and I don’t see it slowing down.”
Cornerback Deommodore Lenoir, himself enjoying a fine start to the campaign, had a more succinct appraisal, which game with an emphatic endorsement.
“He jumped like 10 feet in the air,” Lenoir said of Warner’s interception. “That was crazy. … Fred Warner for DPOY.”
There are many other excellent defensive players in the NFL. However, right now, it’s very difficult to argue with Lenoir.