Warner sparks 49ers' win however provides to damage checklist

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Searching for a spark to finish a disappointing two-game shedding streak, the San Francisco 49ers bought precisely what they wanted from the individual they most anticipated to supply it Sunday afternoon.

With the Niners clinging to an early six-point lead, linebacker Fred Warner made a highlight-reel interception, rose to his ft and raced 45 yards for a landing. The pick-6 all however put the New England Patriots away because the Niners cruised to a 30-13 victory that wiped away the bitter style of consecutive losses to the Minnesota Vikings and Los Angeles Rams.

“He jumped like 10 ft within the air,” cornerback Deommodore Lenoir stated. “That was loopy. … Fred Warner for DPOY.”

Whereas Warner’s play was the jump-start the Niners wanted to get again to 2-2 on the season with key NFC West divisional video games in opposition to the Arizona Cardinals and on the Seattle Seahawks within the subsequent two weeks, it additionally did not come with no price. For a banged-up 49ers workforce, nothing a lot does as of late.

On this case, it was the all the time sturdy Warner who wasn’t capable of make it by the sport unscathed. Warner headed to the locker room on New England’s ultimate drive of the primary half with an obvious ankle damage. Initially of the third quarter, Warner had his helmet on and was seen operating on the sideline in an try and get again within the sport. Nonetheless, he missed the second half and is slated for additional testing on his ankle.

“It was all based mostly off of really feel,” Warner stated. “Like I stated, it’d take lots for me to faucet out, so I imply if I may have been on the market, I might’ve been. We’ll get extra data as we go together with scans and all that, however I really feel good proper now.”

Within the Niners’ expansive universe of star energy, it might be tough to argue that anybody aside from Warner has been their finest participant by the season’s first 4 weeks. His three compelled fumbles lead the NFL, and his two interceptions are tied for second most within the league. Warner’s interception Sunday was the tenth of his profession, making him simply the second Niner (alongside Keena Turner) to have 10 picks and 10 sacks in a profession. It was additionally the second pick-6 of his profession, although it’d high his checklist of jaw-dropping performs.

With 14:15 left within the second quarter, Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett dropped again to throw on third-and-5. Brissett scanned to his left and fired a cross supposed for receiver Tyquan Thornton. The throw seemed to be too excessive and too arduous for Warner to return down with however he climbed the ladder and snatched it out of the air. He then rose to his ft and raced down the precise sideline earlier than diving into the tip zone.

“He is fairly good, is not he?” tight finish George Kittle stated. “Goodness gracious. I used to be really pissed off at first as a result of he had as many factors because the Niners offense did to begin the sport. … That was an incredible play.”

A part of Warner’s ascension within the ranks of the league’s finest gamers has been his sturdiness. Since getting into the league in 2018, he is missed only one sport — a 2021 regular-season sport at Seattle — due to damage. He is solely even appeared on the damage report in 5 weeks out of his whole profession, in keeping with ESPN Analysis.

With Warner on the sphere Sunday, the Niners allowed zero factors and held the Patriots to 82 yards and three yards per play. Warner performed 27 snaps and had seven tackles, in addition to the pick-6, earlier than exiting. Whereas the protection held up nicely after Warner’s departure, these numbers dropped to 13 factors, 134 yards and three.8 yards per play on 35 snaps. Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles changed Warner and made 4 tackles with rookie Tatum Bethune getting a trio of snaps to shut out the sport.

All of which is to say the Niners are nicely conscious of how vital Warner is to their success.

“He is all the time performed on the highest of ranges,” finish Nick Bosa stated. “Typically issues come your means in a sport and he is taken benefit of all these alternatives. So, clearly his stats are loopy proper now and I do not see it slowing down.”

Popping out of Sunday’s sport, the Niners are hopeful that Warner might be OK and again on the sphere before later. With three first-team All Professional and three Professional Bowl nods already underneath his belt, it might appear tough for Warner to be even higher in his age 27 season. However teammates and coaches insist that that is taking place up to now in 2024, with coach Kyle Shanahan noting that it is “form of arduous to say that when he is been so good yearly” however including that “the best way he is began out this 12 months, it has been a big-time 12 months for him up to now.”

If it is to be a big-time 12 months for the defending NFC champion 49ers, they will must construct on the get-right sport the Patriots supplied Sunday. Accidents have ravaged the Niners by the season’s first month with high gamers equivalent to operating backs Christian McCaffrey and Elijah Mitchell, receiver Deebo Samuel, Kittle, defensive deal with Javon Hargrave, security Talanoa Hufanga and linebacker Dre Greenlaw lacking video games due to accidents suffered both this season or final.

These illnesses have contributed to a slower than anticipated begin, culminating in final week’s loss to the Rams that left a bitter style in San Francisco. Nonetheless, Bosa insisted that there is no panic for a workforce that may depend on gamers like Warner to ship when wanted.

“It feels good to get a win,” Bosa stated. “It is such a protracted 12 months. If you happen to seemed from an outsider’s perspective or seemed on-line, you’d suppose the constructing’s burning down. However I instructed the D-line guys in our assembly final night time that we have misplaced some guys, however I have never misplaced confidence on this group one bit and that is the reality. I feel we’ll be simply fantastic.”