Warner returns, says he feels great
SANTA CLARA >> Fred Warner would only say “it wasn’t a fun process” being away from 49ers practices for 10 days while on the NFL’s COVID-19 reserve list
“You guys obviously know either I had it or was around somebody who had it. I don’t want to get in the nitty-gritty and the details behind it,” Warner said Thursday, a day after re-joining teammates. “It (stunk), it did, being away from the team for 10 days.”
Warner’s importance to the 49ers goes beyond leading them in tackles and starting every game the past two seasons. He is a team captain for the first time.
“Being a captain, that’s the biggest achievement I’ve accomplished to date,” Warner said. “It says so much when your peers respect you, and it’s an honor for me to be able to serve them.”
Among those sending congratulations was Warner’s younger brother, Troy, a captain at BYU. Big brother called it “pretty cool” they both are captains, adding: “I want to make sure I have (the 49ers) backs and that whatever they need, they can count on me.”
That is what made his 10day, COVID-list hiatus so maddening to him.
Did he have to regain physical strength and stamina this week?
“I feel great. That’s a credit to training with the performance staff before camp started, so I had that base underneath me and I was ready to go,” Warner said.
“I used it to my advantage, to come back strong. Having 10 days off you can say I have ‘fresh legs.’ That’s the joke around the building. I’m ready to go. I’m physically and mentally where I need to be.”
He’ll be starting at middle linebacker in Sunday’s opener against an Arizona Cardinals offense that is more dangerous than past years, including quarterback Kyler Murray, running back Kenyan Drake and especially wide receivers DeAndre Hopkins and Larry Fitzgerald.
Defensive coordinator
Robert Saleh is confident
Warner is up for the challenge, after facing this season’s most daunting and invisible opponent, COVID-19.
Through two practices, Warner “looks fine to me,” Saleh said. “He’s exciting to be around. He looks good and I’m not expecting any restrictions for him.”
• Wide receiver Deebo Samuel has yet to practice on his surgically repaired foot, but first-round Brandon Aiyuk participated for the first time since his Aug. 23 hamstring strain. Aiyuk looked smooth catching passes in offensive warmups, after merely observing an early drill in which Trent Taylor, Dante Pettis, Richie James and Jerick McKinnon took turns as return specialists.
Samuel came off the nonfootball-injury list Saturday and the team reviewed his latest medical scans Tuesday on his left foot. The 49ers have not provided any update on his status.
• Sunday’s game is not expected to get relocated or rescheduled due to the Bay Area’s smoke-choked skies. That assumes the air-quality index does not breach 200, as outlined by the NFL’s Football Operations department. Thursday’s air-quality index was 90, about the same as Wednesday’s orange-tinted spectacle in the ash-laden sky. The 49ers, NFL and local authorities will continue to monitor conditions leading up to Sunday’s 1:25 p.m. kickoff against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi’s Stadium.
• Cornerback Richard Sherman is entering his 10th season, and wants to play three more seasons before “going into the (TV) booth.” Sherman is entering the final season of a self-negotiated, three-year contract, and he said he’s had extension talks with the 49ers, “but obviously when you represent yourself, you have to focus on the season when the season comes.”
• Dee Ford declared his right calf fine, and that taking two weeks off after an Aug. 23 strain as a preventative measure regarding a potentially more serious Achilles issue. He has practiced the past two days and not shown up on the 49ers’ injury report.
Ford sustained a hamstring strain that kept him out most of the final six regular-season games, and that injury occurred when he pursued Murray, this Sunday’s target.
• Ben Garland (ankle) appeared to practice in limited fashion for a second consecutive day, and it remains unknown whether their Super Bowl center indeed will be available Sunday. If Garland is out, the 49ers can turn slide Daniel Brunskill over from right guard or call up Hroniss Grasu from the practice squad.
• Jason Verrett (hamstring) remained out of practice after last week’s strain. If the 49ers need an extra reserve, Dontae Johnson is first in line to come up from the practice squad.