TAMPA, Fla. — Fred Warner spoke from the center of the 49ers’ locker room. Tears didn’t stream from his eyes. As an alternative, encouraging phrases flowed over a deeply significant minute.
His crestfallen teammates wanted yet one more pep speak from their All-Professional linebacker and consummate captain, who had disclocated and fractured his proper ankle within the first quarter of an eventual 30-19 defeat in opposition to the host Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
“It’s heartbreaking,” left sort out Trent Williams mentioned. “I mean, Fred is not only one of the best linebackers to ever play this game, he’s the heart and soul of this team, not just the heart and soul of this defense.”
With Warner carted off halfway via the primary quarter, his teammates valiantly battled on and tried to win. They did so in Seattle in Week 1 after George Kittle’s first-quarter hamstring pull. They did so of their residence opener in opposition to Arizona after Nick Bosa’s season-ending knee damage.
The 49ers (4-2) wouldn’t full a comeback this time.
“Obviously, a huge blow. I feel bad for Fred. He’s in good spirits, though, and has a good foundation,” coach Kyle Shanahan mentioned.
San Francisco’s offense sputtered with Mac Jones beginning a fourth sport due to Brock Purdy’s Week 1 toe damage. Serving as bookends had been Jones’ interceptions on the 49ers’ first sequence and once more with slightly below six minutes remaining.
Jones threw for 347 yards however received sacked six occasions. The offense stalled out a lot that Eddy Piñeiro was summoned to make 4 subject objectives. No surprise the 49ers couldn’t hold tempo with the NFC South-leading Bucs and MVP candidate Baker Mayfield (256 yards, two touchdowns).
“It was on everyone collectively. Made too many mistakes offensively, defensively,” Shanahan mentioned of the 49ers’ second loss in three video games.
Including to the chaos was a sideline spat between Shanahan and vast receiver Jauan Jennings simply earlier than halftime whereas Shanahan was calling performs amid a two-minute drill that led to a subject objective.
Shanahan termed them “intense, competitive conversations,” and Jennings wouldn’t reveal their nature, although it’s price noting he had no targets to that time and mentioned he’s enjoying with 5 damaged ribs, two ankle sprains and a shoulder situation. He completed with solely a 7-yard reception on three targets.
Jennings did share how devastated he and the 49ers had been to Warner’s beautiful exit, saying: “I was personally nauseous. I had to take some nauseous medicine. It just made me sick to my stomach.”
Warner implored teammates afterward to summon a next-man-up mentality and have his again.
His proper ankle received trapped and twisted underneath security Ji’Ayir Brown, who was tackling Rachaad White on a 10-yard run close to midfield. Warner had fought off a Tristan Wirfs block and turned to hitch the sort out when his ankle grew to become collateral injury.
It was no coincidence White broke via the proper aspect of the 49ers’ entrance as a result of solely 10 defenders had been on the sector. Rookie Mykel Williams mentioned afterward there was a substitution error. He rushed in to play proper defensive finish on the following snap, and helped finish that fateful sequence together with his first profession sack on a third-down pursuit.
Warner has missed just one sport in his eight-year profession. He even made it via all 17 video games final season regardless of a Week 4 ankle damage that concerned a slight fracture to that very same ankle.
The toothless protection prolonged its NFL file drought to 13 straight video games with out an interception.
As an alternative, Mayfield livened up the house crowd with a 15-yard scramble on third-and-14 with four-and-a-half minutes left within the third. Then, two snaps later, Mayfield related on a 45-yard landing move to Tez Johnson, who raced previous Renardo Inexperienced and received behind rookie security Marques Sigle for a 27-19 lead.
The Bucs had taken a 20-13 lead into halftime as soon as Mayfield delivered a 34-yard landing move in opposition to blown protection, maybe by Dee Winters.
Christian McCaffrey stays and not using a 100-yard dashing sport, however he did put the 49ers forward 10 minutes earlier than halftime together with his — and the workforce’s — first dashing landing of the season. That one-yard, third-and-goal run had him observe the blocks of Williams, Luke Farrell, Jake Tonges and Kyle Juszczyk for the 10-7 lead.
TAMPA, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 12: Mac Jones #10 of the San Francisco 49ers passes the ball whereas being hit by Anthony Nelson #98 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the course of the second quarter within the sport at Raymond James Stadium on October 12, 2025 in Tampa, Florida. (Picture by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Photos)
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Mac Jones, proper, dives in entrance of Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive finish Logan Corridor (90) in the course of the first half of an NFL soccer sport in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (AP Picture/Chris O’Meara)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers working again Rachaad White (1) runs in opposition to San Francisco 49ers cornerback Renardo Inexperienced (0) in the course of the first half of an NFL soccer sport in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (AP Picture/Chris O’Meara)
San Francisco 49ers working again Christian McCaffrey (23) runs for a landing in opposition to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the course of the first half of an NFL soccer sport in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (AP Picture/Chris O’Meara)
San Francisco 49ers working again Christian McCaffrey (23) runs in opposition to Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive sort out Vita Vea (50) in the course of the first half of an NFL soccer sport in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (AP Picture/Chris O’Meara)
TAMPA, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 12: Fred Warner #54 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts after being injured in the course of the first quarter in opposition to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers within the sport at Raymond James Stadium on October 12, 2025 in Tampa, Florida. (Picture by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Photos)
TAMPA, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 12: Mac Jones #10 of the San Francisco 49ers carries the ball in opposition to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the course of the second quarter within the sport at Raymond James Stadium on October 12, 2025 in Tampa, Florida. (Picture by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Photos)
TAMPA, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 12: Eddy Pineiro #18 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts after kicking a subject objective in opposition to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the course of the second quarter within the sport at Raymond James Stadium on October 12, 2025 in Tampa, Florida. (Picture by Julio Aguilar/Getty Photos)
San Francisco 49ers vast receiver Kendrick Bourne (84) runs previous Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Jacob Parrish in the course of the first half of an NFL soccer sport in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (AP Picture/Chris O’Meara)
San Francisco 49ers working again Christian McCaffrey (23) celebrates after scoring in opposition to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the course of the first half of an NFL soccer sport in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (AP Picture/Chris O’Meara)
San Francisco 49ers kicker Eddy Pineiro (18) kicks a subject objective in opposition to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the course of the first half of an NFL soccer sport in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (AP Picture/Jason Behnken)
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TAMPA, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 12: Mac Jones #10 of the San Francisco 49ers passes the ball whereas being hit by Anthony Nelson #98 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the course of the second quarter within the sport at Raymond James Stadium on October 12, 2025 in Tampa, Florida. (Picture by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Photos)
Increase
McCaffrey received stopped on the earlier snap however an offside penalty gave him a mulligan. Igniting that scoring drive was Kendrick Bourne’s 56-yard catch-and-run to open the second quarter. Bourne completed with 142 yards on 5 catches.
The Bucs answered McCaffrey’s landing with their very own landing drive, capped by a nine-yard scoring run from Sean Tucker to retake a 14-10 lead 5 minutes earlier than halftime.
On Jones’ first sequence, his third-down throw was intercepted by Kindle Vildor, who had a transparent path for a pick-six however fell thrice. Jones appeared to focus on Bourne, who spun the other means of Jones’ throw.
Two Rachaad White runs later and the Bucs owned a 7-0 lead over the 49ers.
Jones went again to Bourne to open the 49ers’ second sequence, and that resulted in a 41-yard completion to the Bucs’ 29. However one other third-down miscue got here when Jones held the ball too lengthy and was sacked, resulting in a 52-yard subject objective, the primary of Piñeiro’s 4 (52, 54, 42 and 29 yards).
Two performs later was Warner’s ankle fracture, altering the tone of the sport and the 49ers’ season.
The 49ers’ first check with out him will likely be subsequent Sunday evening, after they host the Atlanta Falcons.
Initially Revealed: October 12, 2025 at 4:23 PM PDT
