49ers announce Warner, Pearsall injury designations for playoffs in Seattle

Cam Inman, Bay Area News Group on Jan 15, 2026

Published in Football

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SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Fred Warner’s comeback is on hold — for a week or, perhaps, until next season.

Warner was officially ruled out Thursday from the 49ers’ divisional-round visit to the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday night, three months after his right ankle fracture.

When coach Kyle Shanahan announced Tuesday that Warner was cleared to practice, a key caveat was his comeback only would happen if the 49ers reach the NFC championship game, as they’ve done in their previous seven postseason trips.

“I feel confident, if it works out,” Shanahan said Thursday of next week’s plan.

A day after going through an impressive warmup session before a brigade of media, Warner was relegated to watching and vocally supporting his teammates in Thursday’s walk-through session.

Eric Kendricks will start a second straight game at middle linebacker, having sealed Sunday’s wild-card win at Philadelphia with a fourth-down pass breakup.

Warner, before Wednesday’s practice, said his expectations were “to continue to take it day by day and see where we’re at.”

Despite Warner’s exit, the 49ers have won nine of 12 games, though they did lose to the Seahawks 13-3 in the regular-season finale that decided the NFC playoffs’ top seed and the NFC West crown. “Everything they’ve done on the field up to this point is a testament to them and the preparation they’ve put in every week,” Warner added. “I’m here just to be a resource where I can.”

Other injuries

Questionable are wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (knee and linebackers Dee Winters (ankle) and Luke Gifford (quadriceps), as well as wide receiver Jacob Cowing, who’d have to be activated off injured reserve by 1 p.m. Saturday.

Safety Ji’Ayir Brown (hamstring) is out after starting the past 13 games, likely thrusting rookie Marques Sigle back into the lineup. Sigle started the first seven games, then was mostly used on special teams until Sunday’s impressive relief role in the 49ers’ wild-card win at Philadelphia.

Having made his NFL debut in Seattle in the 49ers’ Week 1 win, Sigle said of that atmosphere: “I got a feel of it. It’s playoffs now so it’ll be ramped up.”

Pearsall update

After Pearsall’s participation in back-to-back practices, Shanahan said: “I saw improvement. He’s still battling it and that’s why he’s still questionable.”

Pearsall has missed eight games because of a Week 4 knee injury (posterior cruciate ligament) and didn’t score on any of his 36 receptions. He didn’t play in the wild-card win or the regular-season finale against Seattle, after aggravating his knee in a Dec. 28 win over Chicago.

“The toughest part has been it just lingering. It’s not going to heal up until I’m fully rested and done,” Pearsall said. “I can’t do that now, obviously. So I’m just getting it back to being manageable.”

Being a limited participant in each practice this week has Pearsall more encouraged than last week, saying: “Yeah you guys saw me practicing last week, but if you really saw me, I couldn’t lift my leg very well. This week gave me more optimism I’ll be playing this week.”

Darnold on injury list

Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (oblique) showed up on the Seahawks’ injury report but Shanahan said it doesn’t change the 49ers’ mindset. “No, not at all,” Shanahan said. “(For) preparation, we wouldn’t change anything the next couple days. I didn’t think too much of it. If that happens, we’ll react accordingly, which would be the same football game.”

Saleh starts interviewing

Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh was to meet with the Miami Dolphins on Thursday for the first of potentially several interviews for head-coach openings, NFL Network first reported. The Dolphins fired former 49ers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel last week. Saleh will meet Sunday with the Tennessee Titans and the Baltimore Ravens.

Salute to service

Christian McCaffrey is among three finalists for the NFL’s Salute to Service Award, which tight end George Kittle won last year. Also advancing this year are the Minnesota Vikings’ Aaron Jones Jr. and the Dallas Cowboys’ Jake Ferguson.

Kittle party

George Kittle, a day after successful Achilles surgery, promoted on Instagram a Super Bowl party hosted by Sports Illustrated and the Tight Ends University he co-founded. The event, Tight Ends & Friends, will take place Feb. 5 at 9 p.m. at Public Works in San Francisco.

Broadcast teams

Fox Sports’ top team is on the call for a second straight 49ers playoff game, featuring Kevin Burkhardt, Tom Brady, Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi. On the 49ers’ radio network, Guy Haberman will again fill in for Greg Papa and pair with Tim Ryan.