As optimistic as it seemed to have San Francisco 49ers All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner return from the gruesome ankle injury he suffered way back earlier this season -- a suggestion that seemed all but impossible at the time -- it might've been a bit too optimistic to actually have him return for the Niners' divisional-round showdown against the Seattle Seahawks.
True, Warner admitted he was ready to return after an exhaustive rehabilitation, and San Francisco even opened up his 21-day practice window before traveling to the Pacific Northwest to take on the Hawks.
Unfortunately, he's not quite there... yet.
Prior to the game, The Athletic's Matt Barrows told Sactown Sports 1140 that Warner's return wouldn't happen this week, pushing back the much-anticipated date at least a week more, even though a report from ESPN's Adam Schefter on The Pat McAfee Show left the door for a return open.
If Warner ultimately can't return this week but possibly next, the 49ers would have to beat the Hawks and advance to the NFC Championship game, something the Niners have done every year they've made the playoffs under head coach Kyle Shanahan.
Either way, Warner's return to practice at least had another desired effect that might not be quite as obvious.
Fred Warner's return to practice lights a fire for 49ers to beat Seahawks
Warner getting back on the field is big news for the rest of the roster in its preparations for Saturday's bout at Lumen Field. Simply seeing San Francisco's defensive leader and captain should have been nothing short of inspiring for the rest of the cast.
"The fact that Fred even has a jersey on less than 100 days after what happened to him, that's just uplifting," left tackle Trent Williams told reporters. "Whether Fred takes the field in these playoffs or not, that's motivation."
Even quarterback Brock Purdy admitted he was moved:
"54 is right there around the corner. Obviously if we do our job and handle our business then we can get Fred back."
— KNBR (@KNBR) January 14, 2026
Brock Purdy and Co. all know what's at stake...
"He's the captain here man. He's the guy that we all follow so — he set the standard of really how we play here." pic.twitter.com/LBEGkKYVIJ
"It's cool because you can feel his presence," Purdy told reporters. "No. 54 is right there around the corner. Obviously if we do our job and handle our business then we can get Fred back."
That alone should provide no shortage of motivation for the 49ers to upend their hated NFC West rivals.
"Guys feed off that," Purdy added.
In the interim, the Niners will look to other linebackers to plug the gap, including veteran Eric Kendricks, whose clutch late-game play against the Philadelphia Eagles secured the victory over Wild Card weekend and allowed San Francisco to advance to this point.
Still, getting Warner back on the field and in uniform is a goal Purdy, Kendricks and the rest of the 49ers eagerly want to achieve.