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Nick Wagoner
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Linebacker Fred Warner took a significant step toward a potential playoff return as the San Francisco 49ers began preparations for Saturday’s showdown with the Seattle Seahawks.
The Niners opened Warner’s 21-day practice window on Tuesday, clearing the path for him to possibly be available for the NFC Championship Game after dislocating and fracturing his right ankle in a loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Oct. 12.
«We’re opening his window, so he can do some stuff like that,» coach Kyle Shanahan said. «Again, we’re not doing much [in practice], so he’ll walk through out there with us today and things like that. But hoping he can be ready for next week.»
Warner was listed as a limited participant on Tuesday.
«You could feel the energy,» defensive tackle C.J. West said. «You can just feel when he’s around. It was awesome. I’m excited for him.»
Philadelphia Eagles. And while he is trending in a positive direction, he still has plenty of steps to clear medically before he can play again this season.
«I approach it by what doctors tell me,» Shanahan said. «I’m like Fred; if he feels good and tells me he’s good, I’m probably going to think he’s good and trust him to get out there. But you can’t always think with your heart and emotionally, so you ask doctors where he’s at — all the things that these guys have to pass, just protocols that we have in, just sprinting and jumping and things like that. And he’s got to hit all those before we feel safe.»
Elsewhere on the injury front, 49ers tight end George Kittle is scheduled to have surgery Wednesday for his torn right Achilles and will go on injured reserve this week.
Wide receiver Ricky Pearsall, who has missed the past two games with knee and ankle injuries, is slated to be a limited participant in Tuesday’s walk-through with the same designation for left tackle Trent Williams (hamstring), linebacker Dee Winters (ankle), defensive linemen Keion White (groin, hamstring) and Yetur Gross-Matos (knee) and guard Dominick Puni (ankle).
Linebackers Luke Gifford (quad) and safety Ji’Ayir Brown (hamstring) did not practice.
