The San Francisco 49ers have opened the 21-day practice window for All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner, head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters Tuesday.
That’s the next step in a potential return to the field if the 49ers make a deep run into the postseason.
Shanahan indicated that the earliest Warner, who has been on injured reserve since Week 6 when he suffered a dislocated and broken right ankle, could return is in the NFC championship game, which is set for Jan. 25.
San Francisco went on the road and beat the Philadelphia Eagles 23-19 on Sunday in the wild-card round of the NFL playoffs.
The 49ers, who are the NFC’s No. 6 seed, will now hit the road to face the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday (6 p.m. MST, Fox) in the divisional round.
Warner, the former BYU standout, suffered the injury in a loss at Tampa Bay on Oct. 12. It’s the first time in his eight-year career that the team captain has missed significant time due to injury.
Shanahan told reporters Warner will have to go through protocols — which include proving he is able to sprint and jump — and be cleared by doctors before he is able to play, according to video from CBS Sports Bay Area’s Matt Lively.
“If he feels good and tells me he feels good, I’m probably going to think he’s good and trust him to get out there,” Shanahan said. “But you can’t always think with your heart and emotionally, so you ask doctors where he’s at.”
Should San Francisco beat Seattle Saturday, the 49ers would face either the Chicago Bears or Los Angeles Rams in the NFC championship game. As the No. 6 seed, the 49ers would be on the road for that game, in either case.
This year’s Super Bowl, though, is being held at San Francisco’s home field, Levi’s Stadium, on Feb. 8.
Warner has twice played in the Super Bowl with the 49ers. San Francisco lost to Kansas City both times, in Super Bowl LVIII two years ago and Super Bowl LIV four years prior to that.
Ahead of the 49ers’ Week 17 home game against the Bears, Warner told NBC he was hopeful he could return to the field this season.
“I’ve got a chance,” Warner said during NBC’s pregame coverage. “That’s the plan, so we’re going to take this thing one day at a time. There’s a whole lot of different steps, and Ts got to be crossed, Is got to be dotted in order to get there, but we’re on the right track.”
