When star San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner went down with a gruesome ankle injury earlier this season, it seemed like his team's playoff hopes were over.
That is no longer the case and Warner has left the door open to a return.
Warner made a media appearance and was asked about whether San Francisco has a chance to make it to the Super Bowl, and he said the following:
"You're dang right I do! We have a chance to win these next four games and have the Super Bowl run through Santa Clara."
The All-Pro linebacker said, that since he has been on the shelf, he now has a greater appreciation for how fans get so amped up about the squad because he, too, has started to look ahead and think about things the way a fan would.
He contrasted that with actually having to play in each and every game and staying focused from week to week like head coach Kyle Shanahan emphasizes, so the team is never taking an opponent for granted, which would be easy to do in Week 15 against a team like the Tennessee Titans.
Of course, there is a chance that Warner could still return for the 49ers this season depending on whether they make the playoffs, followed by a deep run. Shortly after his injury, some medical professionals said that Warner could return for the Super Bowl, which would be amazing especially since it will be contested at Levi's Stadium.
General manager John Lynch was asked about a potential Warner return recently, and he said he would not put anything past the veteran. There have been some videos online showing Warner rehabbing in a swimming pool, which only got fans more amped about the prospect of him coming back at some point in the playoffs.
That would be a miracle scenario, but with the Niners running a little thin at linebacker at the moment, it would be a welcome surprise.
Tatum Bethune filled in quite nicely for Warner before he went down with an injury as well. He was replaced by Curtis Robinson, who has done alright, but there is obviously going to be a drop-off in production from a player of Warner's ability and a third-string player.
It would take a really special run from the 49ers, but perhaps they are owed a miraculous Super Bowl run and a Warner return after all of the injuries and heartbreak San Francisco has endured in recent seasons.