Warner shines bright in Monday night spotlight
SANTA CLARA » Linebacker Fred Warner was less than 24 hours removed from his career-best game, and he was where his teammates expected: at the 49ers facility preparing for Sunday’s next opponent, the Arizona Cardinals.
“He’s the last guy in the facility every day,” defensive end Nick Bosa said. “(Tuesday) was our off day and I was home waiting for him to get on X-Box with me, and he didn’t leave here until like 5, and that was our off day.
“So that just shows what kind of player he is and what he wants to be.”
No, Warner is living up to the 49ers linebacker lore, even if he’s not as flashy as the Patrick Willis-NaVorro Bowman era, the short-lived tenure of Reuben Foster and the recently halted Kwon Alexander experience. Warner’s strides are striking in Year 2. He’s taken on more importance after Alexander’s
season- ending injury in a 28-25 win at Arizona on Halloween.
The cerebral Warner responded with his best game in Monday’s 27-24 overtime loss to Seattle, producing the first two sacks of his career and a season-high 10 tackles. His best move: forcing a fumble that DeForest Buckner recovered for a touchdown to spark a fourth-quarter comeback.
“Last game, that was really cool to watch, him just pick up the slack we lost from Kwon (Alexander) and just play with that much passion,” Bosa added. “It’s fun to have him on the field.
“It’s usually him calling the plays and Kwon being the energy guy,” Bosa added. “Now it’s him doing both, so he calls the play, gets us lined up and brings the energy.”
It’s not easy, confirmed Warner, who sternly declared after Monday’s loss it was “not going to define us.”
“It does take some balance, so that’s why it was good when Kwon was out there because I let him handle most of that,” Warner said. “I can still bring it. But at the same time I have to remember I have to run back to the huddle and scream the call to all 10 other players.”
Richard Sherman said Warner’s hype level Monday matched the conditions: “He was very fiery throughout the game, but I don’t think it was him trying to channel (Alexander). It was just him knowing how big the game was and moment was and playing as hard as he could.”
At the start of each practice since training camp, Warner delivers a primal scream after the team stretches, a Braveheartesque battle cry that Buckner insisted become a ritual. “I was just trying to set the tone in practice, and I kept doing it,” Warner said.
Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh said Warner excelled last game beyond just making plays, such as making the correct checks, communication well and winning one- on- one assignments. “He’s always had that steady presence and has been fantastic since the day he stepped in as a rookie,” Saleh said.
• Tevin Coleman was excused from Thursday’s practice for personal reasons, joining a list of missing players that also included fellow running back Matt Breida, who hasn’t practiced since leaving Monday’s game with an aggravated ankle injury.
Asked about a NFL Network report of him seeking a second opinion and possibly missing multiple games, Breida responded: “I really don’t know, because that’s up to the trainers. We’ll see.” He is their leading rusher with 542 yards and 5 yards per carry.
Running back Raheem Mostert (knee) was limited as he’s been most of the past few weeks but should be OK. Jeff Wilson Jr. was inactive last game but could appear in his seventh game this year if needed.
• Tight end George Kittle ( knee, ankle), wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders (ribs), left tackle Joe Staley (finger), nose tackle D. J. Jones (groin) and kicker Robbie Gould (quadriceps) remained out of practice.
Sanders was seen in uniform walking off the field after a morning walkthrough session.
Limited were wide receiver Dante Pettis (groin), defensive end Dee Ford (quadriceps), cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon (foot, quadriceps), linebacker Azeez Al- Shaair (concussion protocol), running back Raheem Mostert ( knee) and tight ends Garrett Celek ( back) and Levine Toilolo (groin).
The Cardinals are banged up, too, with a dozen players on their injury report. Linebacker Terrell Suggs, defensive end Jonathan Bullard and running back Chase Edmunds haven’t practiced this week.
• The NFL added nickel back K’Waun Williams to the Pro Bowl online ballot, and he replaces Ahkello Witherspoon as the 49ers’ other cornerback beside Sherman, who’s vying for his fifth Pro Bowl but took time Tuesday appealing for Williams’ inclusion. Williams’ reaction: “It’s great, especially having Sherman and the guys upstairs lobbying for me.”
“His play-making ability is what allows our defense to go, along with other unheralded guys,” Sherman said.
Williams has two interceptions, two forced fumbles and a sack in a banner, third season with the 49ers. He was out of the league in 2016, after playing two seasons with the Cleveland Browns. Upon joining the 49ers, he promptly got nicknamed “The Shark” by coach Kyle Shanahan; Warner prefers calling the 5-foot-9 threat their “Killer Whale.”
Fan voting accounts for a third of the Pro Bowl selection process. Fullback Kyle Juszczyk hit social media to shrewdly campaign for his fourth straight Pro Bowl, “which my teammates and I will all plan on politely declining,” Juszczyk tweeted, in reference to a hopeful Super Bowl conflict.
• Left tackle Joe Staley, for a fifth straight year, is the 49ers’ nominee for the Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award. Former 49ers center Daniel Kilgore is the Miami Dolphins’ nominee.