AROUND THE SHIELD — As if he hasn't before (note: he has), Fred Warner proved his worth in the 49ers' comeback win over the Arizona Cardinals.
The former BYU linebacker totaled a game-high 11 tackles and passes defended as the Niners came back to stay unbeaten with a 16-15 win in Sunday's Week 3 contest.
The win marks the 49ers' first 3-0 start since 2023.
Arizona (1-2) tied the game when Kyler Murray hit Trey McBride with a 1-yard touchdown with 9:37 left in the game, and took a 2-point lead five minutes later on a safety to go up 15-13 — the Cardinals' first lead since 3-0 in the middle of the second quarter.
But they left too much time. Any time is too much, Warner quipped.
"Just never giving up," he said after the game. "As long as there's time on the clock, we're going to play until there's zeros. That just shows the defense's relentless, especially with how we're flying around.
"That's just a testimony to how we play for each other," he added.
Arizona got the ball back after the safety, but San Francisco punted just inside the two-minute warning to give San Francisco one more chance.
The @49ers defense with a big stop on 3rd down.
— NFL (@NFL) September 21, 2025
Fred Warner knocks down the pass!
AZvsSF on FOX/FOX Onehttps://t.co/HkKw7uXVntpic.twitter.com/jjfhGHIDTK
That's when Mac Jones led a 10-play, 63-yard drive over 1:46 to set up Eddy Pineiro's 35-yard field goal as time expired to keep the 49ers undefeated.
All three of the 49ers' wins have come by a touchdown or less. For Warner, the ability to finish close games in the season's first three weeks comes from training camp.
"All throughout the offseason, all throughout OTAs, all we talked about was finishing games," he said. "There were about four games that we played last year that came down to us finishing opponents in the fourth quarter."
Here's a look at how former Utah high school and college football players performed in Week 3 of the 2025 NFL regular season.
Monday Night Football
Detroit 38, Baltimore 30
Lions (2-1)
- Penei Sewell, OT, Desert Hills High (via Oregon): Started at right tackle
- Sione Vaki, RB, Utah: Reserve running back made one tackle on special teams before exiting with injury (groin)
Ravens (1-2)
- Kyle Van Noy, LB, BYU: Inactive for Week 3
DAVID MONTGOMERY RUMBLES FOR 72 YARDS!
— NFL (@NFL) September 23, 2025
DETvsBAL on ESPN/ABC
Stream on @NFLPlus and ESPN App pic.twitter.com/PcvsC3hJgW
Sunday Night Football
Kansas City 22, New York 9
Chiefs (1-2)
- Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU/Orem High: Started at left guard
- Jalen Royals, WR, Utah State: Active, but did not play
- Jeffrey Bassa, LB, Kearns High (via Oregon): Reserve linebacker made one tackle on special teams
Giants (0-3)
- Jaxson Dart, QB, Corner Canyon/Roy High (via Ole Miss/USC): Scrambled once for 3 yards in limited time
Anyone know if Jaxson Dart can also hear play calls? Is this him practicing calling plays on the sideline? You can see him start to read off his wrist right at the end of the video pic.twitter.com/rmLbmK0iPw
— Justin Penik (@JustinPenik) September 22, 2025
Sunday afternoon
Carolina 30, Atlanta 0
Panthers (1-2)
- Brady Christensen, OG, BYU/Bountiful High: Rotated on offensive line
Falcons (1-2)
- Tyler Allgeier, RB, BYU: Reserve running back ran for 4 yards on one carry, caught one pass for no yards
- Clark Phillips III, CB, Utah: Active, but did not play
- Kaden Elliss, LB, Judge Memorial (via Idaho): Starting linebacker totaled nine tackles, a sack, three tackles for loss and a quarterback hit
"He's a leader on this team. He's the dude, and I know he can carry us as far as we want."
— Victor Prieto (@victorprieto_11) September 21, 2025
Kaden Elliss with @archerqb16 on his confidence in Michael Penix Jr. despite the tough performance in Atlanta's 30-0 loss to the Panthers #Falconspic.twitter.com/8ERsKM1kvt
Cleveland 13, Green Bay 10
Browns (1-2)
- Mohamoud Diabate, LB, Utah: Reserve linebacker made two tackles in 11 defensive snaps, 16 on special teams
Packers (2-1)
- Jordan Love, QB, Utah State: Starting quarterback completed 18-of-25 passes for 183 yards, a touchdown and an interception with five sacks taken in 65 offensive snaps
- Zayne Anderson, S, BYU/Stansbury High: Reserve safety made one tackle in 13 snaps on special teams
- Chris Brooks, RB, BYU: Reserve running back made one tackle in 12 snaps on special teams
Jacksonville 17, Houston 10
Jaguars (2-1)
- Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah: Starting linebacker totaled four tackles, a tackle for loss and recovered a fumble on defense; made two tackles on special teams
- Tim Patrick, WR, Utah: Reserve wide receiver caught one pass for 16 yards on offense
Texans (0-3)
- Dalton Schultz, TE, Bingham High (via Stanford): Starting tight end caught five passes for 39 yards on offense; made one tackle on special teams
Jags force the fumble! Back-and-forth in Jacksonville.
— NFL (@NFL) September 21, 2025
HOUvsJAX on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVntpic.twitter.com/0l0kaReT5S
Minnesota 48, Cincinnati 10
Vikings (2-1)
- No locals on the active roster
Bengals (2-1)
- Ryan Rehkow, P, BYU: Punted six times for 328 yards (54.7 yards per punt) with a long of 70 yards and one punt downed inside the 20
Pittsburgh 21, New England 14
Steelers (2-1)
- Jaylen Warren, RB, Utah State/Snow/East High (via Oklahoma State): Starting running back ran for game-high 47 yards on 18 carries, caught team-high five passes for 34 yards
- Miles Killebrew, S, Southern Utah: Reserve safety made one tackle on special teams
Patriots (1-2)
- Khyiris Tonga, DT, BYU/Granger High: Rotated on defensive line
Philadelphia 33, Los Angeles 26
Eagles (3-0)
- Cameron Latu, TE, Olympus High (via Alabama): Active, but played sparingly
Rams (2-1)
- Puka Nacua, WR, BYU/Orem High: Starting wide receiver caught game-high 11 passes for 112 yards, ran one time for 6 yards
Puka Nacua flagged for taunting for celebrating after a 1st down pic.twitter.com/r1voEtoQ1K
— Rate the Refs (@Rate_the_Refs) September 21, 2025
Tampa Bay 29, New York 27
Buccaneers (3-0)
- No locals on the active roster
Jets (0-3)
- Jay Tufele, DT, Bingham High (via USC): Inactive for Week 3
Indianapolis 41, Tennessee 20
Colts (3-0)
- No locals on the active roster
Titans (0-3)
- Cody Barton, LB, Utah/Brighton High: Starting linebacker made team-high six tackles
Washington 41, Las Vegas 24
Commanders (2-1)
- Bobby Wagner, LB, Utah State: Starting linebacker posted game-high 11 tackles, two sacks and three quarterback hits on defense
- Matt Gay, K, Utah/UVU/Orem High: Kicked field goals of 46 and 56 yards and four PATs
Raiders (1-2)
- Jackson Powers-Johnson, OC, Corner Canyon High (via Oregon): Rotated at center and guard on offensive line
- Leki Fotu, DT, Utah/Herriman High: Rotated on defensive line
Los Angeles 23, Denver 20
Chargers (3-0)
- Andre James, OC, Herriman High (via UCLA): Rotated on offensive line
- Alohi Gilman, S, Orem High (via Notre Dame): Starting safety made two tackles on defense
Broncos (1-2)
- Garett Bolles, OT, Utah/Snow/Westlake High: Started at left tackle
- Jonah Elliss, LB, Utah: Reserve linebacker had two tackles, a tackle for loss, and a pass defended on defense; made one tackle and forced a fumble on special teams
- Karene Reid, LB, Utah/Timpview High: Reserve linebacker also played on special teams
Our Scotty Gange with OL Garett Bolles post-game in the locker room ⬇
— 9NEWS Sports Denver (@9NEWSSports) September 22, 2025
"...this team is full of studs, and we just have to find a way to win, obviously the balls not bouncing our way..."#9Sportspic.twitter.com/4AXihBB4PJ
Seattle 44, New Orleans 13
Seahawks (2-1)
- Connor O'Toole, LB, Utah: Inactive for Week 3
Saints (0-3)
- Terrell Burgess, S, Utah: Reserve safety made a tackle on defense, one on special teams
- Devaughn Vele, WR, Utah: Inactive for Week 3
- Rashid Shaheed, WR/RS, Weber State: Starting receiver caught four passes for 42 yards, returned one punt for 40 yards with another fair catch
- Jonah Williams, DE, Weber State: Reserve defensive end had a quarterback hit on defense
Chicago 31, Dallas 14
Bears (1-2)
- Jaylon Johnson, CB, Utah: Placed on injured reserve (groin)
- Braxton Jones, OT, Southern Utah: Started at left tackle
- Noah Sewell, LB, Orem High (via Oregon): Starting linebacker totaled 11 tackles on defense
Cowboys (1-2)
- No locals on the active roster
San Francisco 16, Arizona 15
49ers (3-0)
- Fred Warner, LB, BYU: Starting linebacker posted team-high 11 tackles, two passes defended on defense
Cardinals (2-1)
- Simi Fehoko, WR, Brighton High (via Stanford): Reserve wide receiver made one tackle on special teams
Fred Warner stands alone 👑 pic.twitter.com/jNPDFL6m9L
— 49ers on NBCS (@NBCS49ers) September 21, 2025
Thursday Night Football
Buffalo 31, Miami 21
Bills (3-0)
- Cole Bishop, S, Utah: Starting safety made five tackles in 61 defensive snaps
- Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah: Starting tight end caught team-high five passes for 55 yards and a touchdown in 33 offensive snaps
- Taron Johnson, CB, Weber State: Starting nickel made team-high eight tackles, a tackle for loss and a pass defended in 66 defensive snaps
- Jackson Hawes, TE, Highland (via Georgia Tech/Yale): Reserve tight end caught 5-yard touchdown pass in 26 offensive snaps
Dolphins (0-3)
- Zach Wilson, QB, BYU/Corner Canyon High: Active, but did not play
Allen. Kincaid. SIX.
— NFL (@NFL) September 19, 2025
The @BuffaloBills answer right back.
MIAvsBUF on Prime Video
Also streaming on @NFLPluspic.twitter.com/O8P2pVhx0j








