Overview
- Warner is cleared for full football activities, has no reported restrictions entering OTAs, and is being readied to start for the 49ers in the 2026 season opener in Melbourne, Australia.
- After a broken and dislocated right ankle in Week 6 last season removed him from the lineup, Warner combined standard rehab with a focused swimming program to speed recovery.
- Warner began serious aquatic work in November with coach Sage Hopkins, who said Warner learned quickly despite limited prior swimming experience and used water-based kicking to reduce ankle swelling.
- He returned to team practice before the NFC Divisional Round loss to the Seattle Seahawks and has said he believed he would have been able to play if the team had advanced.
- Warner’s comeback matters to the 49ers because he had been a consistent defensive leader with seven straight 100-plus tackle seasons, and his fitness and performance in training camp and the Melbourne opener will shape the team’s defensive outlook for 2026.