Locals in the NFL: Fred Warner's ankle injury leads to rare 49ers layoff

AROUND THE SHIELD — Since the 49ers drafted him in the third round of the 2018 NFL draft, Fred Warner has been, at times, among the best middle linebackers in the NFL, at other times a four-time Pro Bowl selection, and at all times a league iron man.

In 122 possible appearances in San Francisco, Warner has missed just one game.

That is why his most recent setback left many of his teammates stunned in silence and disbelief.

The former BYU linebacker went down with what was later revealed to be a broken and dislocated right ankle in the first quarter of Sunday's 30-19 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, an injury that will require season-ending surgery, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters after the game.

"It's big," Shanahan said. "I mean, anytime you lose one of your best players, also a huge leader, it's obviously a huge blow. ... Feel bad for Fred right now. He was in good spirits; he's got a good foundation."

On first-and-10 at the Tampa Bay 36, Buccaneers running back Rachaad White ran for a 10-yard gain. Like he's done hundreds — if not thousands — Warner tried to make a play on White, who attempted to cut inside. Niners safety Ji'Ayir Brown pursued to help bring him down but accidentally rolled into the back of Warner's ankle.

Brown reacted quickly, sensing Warner was seriously hurt and hurriedly motioning for the San Francisco medical and athletic training staff to come on the field, where Warner was placed in an aircast and carted toward the locker room.

"I was right there when it happened," an emotional Brown told ESPN, describing Warner as a "big brother" to him. "Seeing him go down, a guy that doesn't go down, you know what I mean? It's draining. I think it kind of drained the stadium. Everybody felt that."

Niners teammate Jauan Jennings told ESPN he had to take nausea medication because he was "sick to his stomach" watching Warner leave with his injury. Left tackle Trent Williams called the injury "heartbreaking."

"Fred, not only is he one of the best linebackers to ever play the game, but he is the heart and soul of this team, not just the heart and soul of this defense," Williams said. "It's one thing to see somebody go down and go to the blue tent, and nobody really knows what's going on. When you see a guy that's injured like that, it's really like a gut punch.

"It's really hard to continue the intensity and playing that game like that never happened."

The Athletic's Dianna Russini reported Warner would consult with doctors to determine how much time he will miss. The injury comes a year after Warner revealed he played through an ankle fracture suffered in Week 4.

Here's a look at how other former Utah college and high school football standouts performed in Week 6 of the 2025 NFL season.

Monday Night Football

Buffalo vs. Atlanta

Bills (4-1)

• Cole Bishop, S, Utah
• Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
• Mitch Wishnowsky, P, Utah
• Taron Johnson, CB, Weber State
• Jackson Hawes, TE, Highland High (via Yale/Georgia Tech)

Falcons (4-1)

• Tyler Allgeier, RB, BYU
• Clark Phillips III, CB, Utah
• Kaden Elliss, LB, Judge Memorial High (via Idaho)

Sunday Night Football

Kansas City 30, Detroit 17

Chiefs (3-3)

• Kingsley Suamataia, OG, BYU/Orem High: Started at left guard
• Jalen Royals, WR, Utah State: Reserve receiver also played on special teams
• Jeffrey Bassa, LB, Kearns High (via Oregon): Reserve linebacker made one tackle on special teams

Lions (4-2)

• Penei Sewell, OT, Desert Hills High (via Oregon): Started at left tackle
• Sione Vaki, RB, Utah: Inactive for Week 6

Sunday afternoon

Denver 13, New York 11

Broncos (4-2)

• Garett Bolles, OT, Utah/Snow/Westlake High: Started at left tackle
• Jonah Elliss, LB, Utah: Inactive for Week 6
• Karene Reid, LB, Utah/Timpview High: Reserve linebacker made one tackle on defense, one tackle on special teams

Jets (0-6)

• Jay Tufele, DT, Bingham High (via USC): Reserve defensive lineman made one tackle on defense

Los Angeles 17, Baltimore 3

Rams (4-2)

• Puka Nacua, WR, BYU/Orem High: Starting wide receiver caught two passes for 28 yards before exiting with an injury

Ravens (1-5)

• Kyle Van Noy, LB, BYU: Starting linebacker made one tackle on defense
• Tyler Huntley, QB, Utah: Backup quarterback completed 10-of-15 passes for 68 yards, ran for 39 yards on three carries
• Alohi Gilman, S, Orem High (via Notre Dame): Starting safety made seven tackles on defense five days after arriving via trade

Carolina 30, Dallas 27

Panthers (3-3)

• Brady Christensen, OG, BYU/Bountiful High: Started at right guard

Cowboys (2-3-1)

• No locals on the active roster

Indianapolis 31, Arizona 27

Colts (5-1)

• No locals on the active roster

Cardinals (2-4)

• Simi Fehoko, WR, Brighton High (via Stanford): Reserve receiver made one tackle on special teams

Seattle 20, Jacksonville 12

Seahawks (4-2)

• Connor O'Toole, LB, Utah: Reserve linebacker also played on special teams

Jaguars (4-2)

• Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah: Starting linebacker made three tackles on defense
• Tim Patrick, WR, Utah: Reserve receiver caught a 26-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter

Los Angeles 29, Miami 27

Chargers (4-2)

• Andre James, OC, Herriman High (via UCLA): Reserve offensive lineman also played on special teams

Dolphins (1-5)

• Zach Wilson, QB, BYU/Corner Canyon High: Active, but did not play

New England 25, New Orleans 19

Patriots (4-2)

• Khyiris Tonga, DT, BYU/Granger High: Reserve defensive lineman made four tackles on defense

Saints (1-5)

• Taysom Hill, QB, BYU: Reserve quarterback ran for a 1-yard touchdown
• Terrell Burgess, S, Utah: Reserve safety made one tackle on defense
• Devaughn Vele, WR, Utah: Started at wide receiver, but lone catch was called back by penalty
• Rashid Shaheed, WR/RS, Weber State: Starting wide receiver caught four passes for 28 yards, returned two punts for 21 yards (10.5 yards per punt)
• Jonah Williams, DE, Weber State: Reserve defensive end also played on special teams

Pittsburgh 23, Cleveland 9

Steelers (4-1)

• Jaylen Warren, RB, Utah State/Snow/East (via Oklahoma State): Starting running back ran for 52 yards on 11 carries, caught one pass for 12 yards
• Miles Killebrew, S, Southern Utah: Reserve safety made one tacle on special teams before exiting with an injury

Browns (2-4)

• Mohamoud Diabate, LB, Utah: Starting linebacker made two tackles on defense

Las Vegas 20, Tennessee 10

Raiders (2-4)

• Leki Fotu, DT, Utah/Herriman High: Starting defensive lineman had one tackle, a 9-yard sack, on defense
• Jackson Powers-Johnson, OL, Corner Canyon High (via Oregon): Started at right guard

Titans (1-5)

• Cody Barton, LB, Utah/Brighton High: Starting linebacker had three tackles, a quarterback hit and an interception on defense

Green Bay 27, Cincinnati 18

Packers (3-1-1)

• Jordan Love, QB, Utah State: Starting quarterback completed 19-of-26 passes for 259 yards, a touchdown and an interception; ran for 26 yards on seven carries, with one sack taken; and made a tackle on an interception return
• Zayne Anderson, S, BYU/Stansbury: Reserve safety made one tackle on special teams
• Chris Brooks, RB, BYU: Reserve running back had one carry for a yard, and shared Anderson's tackle on special teams

Bengals (2-4)

• Ryan Rehkow, P, BYU: Punted four times for 211 y ards (52.8 yards per punt) with one touchback and three punts downed inside the 20

Tampa Bay 30, San Francisco 19

Buccaneers (5-1)

• No locals on the active roster

49ers (4-2)

• Fred Warner, LB, BYU: Starting linebacker made one tackle before exiting with an injury (ankle)

Thursday Night Football

New York 34, Philadelphia 17

Giants (2-4)

• Jaxson Dart, WB, Corner Canyon/Roy High (via Ole Miss): Starting quarterback completed 17-of-25 passes for 195 yards and a touchdown, ran for 58 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries with two sacks taken

Eagles (4-2)

• Cameron Latu, TE, Olympus High (via Alabama): Reserve tight end made one tackle in 17 snaps on special teams

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