3 winners (and 4 losers) from 49ers' back-to-reality loss to Buccaneers

When 2025 is said and done, San Francisco 49ers fans will look back at the Week 5 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and remember it not by the final score of 30-19, but rather they'll remember it as the game All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner suffered a horrific ankle injury that ultimately ended his season.

And his run as the Niners' proverbial "iron man." After all, Warner had missed just one start since his NFL debut in 2018.

Warner's loss is a massive team loss, yes. Coordinator Robert Saleh's defense was clearly not the same after the backer's departure on a cart, and one can only wonder how Saleh will help mitigate Warner's absence for the rest of the season.

Yet the injury opens up the door for others to emerge as potential winners; players who can seize the opportunity to step up in his absence.

Let's evaluate some winners and losers from the game most San Francisco fans would like to forget for a very understandable reason.

Winners and losers from 49ers' Week 5 loss to Buccaneers

Loser: Robert Saleh

When the 49ers brought back Saleh last offseason to coordinate their defense, there was a clear likelihood it'd be a one-and-done campaign, as there was little doubt he'd be a hot head-coaching commodity in the 2026 hiring cycle.

Now, without Warner and also-injured defensive end Nick Bosa for the rest of the year, Saleh is going to have to patchwork together a defense primarily composed of young players with plenty of inexperience.

It might ultimately work out in the long run, but it's fair to assume the Niners defense will be no better than average from here on out, and it might not even look all that great without the defensive captain.

That might put a stop on Saleh's hopes for a new coaching gig in 2026, although San Francisco won't complain if he's around another year.

Winner: Tatum Bethune

Warner's absence ultimately becomes a golden opportunity for second-year linebacker Tatum Bethune, who already appears crowned as the immediate replacement.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan essentially confirmed as much postgame, saying, "I've got a lot of faith in Tatum. He's the next man up."

Bethune impressed during preseason action following a rookie year that saw him contribute almost exclusively on special teams, and one can hope he winds up solidifying the second level of defense alongside Warner's previous backing mate, Dee Winters.

Loser: 49ers offensive line

Perhaps interior linemen Jake Brendel and Dominick Puni deserve to be called out, but the entirety of the offensive line was shoddy enough against the Bucs' pass rush and run defense.

A Puni false start was brutal, and Brendel was responsible for at least two of the six sacks taken by quarterback Mac Jones.

It appears San Francisco is paying the price for not investing more heavily in the O-line in recent years.

Winner: Kendrick Bourne*

There's an asterisk here because it sure seemed as if wide receiver Kendrick Bourne wasn't on the same page with Jones on the signal-caller's first of two interceptions thrown; Bourne breaking in toward the middle of the field while Jones was aiming for an out route:

Fortunately, the veteran pass catcher made up for it with another impressive showing, hauling in five passes for 142 yards, the same number of yards he accounted for in the 49ers' Week 4 victory over the Los Angeles Rams.

With receivers Ricky Pearsall and Brandon Aiyuk out, plus fellow wideout Jauan Jennings banged up, Bourne needed to deliver and did so in a major way.

Loser: Brian Robinson Jr.

If you're wondering what running back Brian Robinson Jr. did to be on the losers list, that's precisely the point: nothing.

You probably missed him on the field, and that's because he only saw five offensive snaps.

Robinson was acquired to help alleviate the reliance on All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey, but the latter is still seeing an overwhelming number of snaps, while the former has turned into a scantly used afterthought.

There doesn't appear to be any sign of that changing.

Winner: Nick Martin

Bethune appears to be the primary beneficiary of Warner's injury, but the depth-chart promotion ultimately means the disappointing third-round rookie, Nick Martin, is likely to rise from the weekly inactive ranks and into the defensive rotation.

Even if the Oklahoma State product is slated behind both Winters and Bethune, and arguably Luke Gifford, too.

Martin made a name for himself during the preseason, albeit mostly for the wrong reasons -- poor angles, missed tackles and over-aggression -- which lead to the 75th overall draft pick being inactive for all of the Niners' regular-season bouts to date.

With Warner sidelined for the rest of the year, Martin's opportunity to rise has never been better.

Loser: Ji'Ayir Brown

Third-year safety Ji'Ayir Brown has seen his stock value plummet ever since he was the surprise starter for San Francisco in the Super Bowl two seasons ago.

It might have hit a new low in Week 5.

Watching the replay probably isn't a good idea (especially for the weak of stomach), but Brown was the 49ers defender who barreled into Warner, causing the rolled-up ankle injury.

Absolutely, there was no intention, but the friendly-fire incident won't earn the embattled Brown any additional fans, particularly after the 2023 third-round pick has struggled over the last year-plus.

It's unfortunate the devastating injury happened as the result of aggressive play to the whistle.