SANTA CLARA — Fred Warner would only say “it wasn’t a fun process” being away from 49ers practices for 10 days while on the NFL’s COVID-19 reserve list
“You guys obviously know either I had it or was around somebody who had it. I don’t want to get in the nitty-gritty and the details behind it,” Warner said Thursday, a day after re-joining teammates. “It (stunk), it did, being away from the team for 10 days.”
Warner’s importance to the 49ers goes beyond leading them in tackles and starting every game the past two seasons. He is a team captain for the first time.
“Being a captain, that’s the biggest achievement I’ve accomplished to date,” Warner said. “It says so much when your peers respect you, and it’s an honor for me to be able to serve them.”
Among those sending congratulations was Warner’s younger brother, Troy, a captain at BYU. BIg brother called it “pretty cool” they both are captains, adding: “I want to make sure I have (the 49ers) backs and that whatever they need, they can count on me.”
That is what made his 10-day, COVID-list hiatus so maddening to him.
Did he have to regain physical strength and stamina this week?
“I feel great. That’s a credit to training with the performance staff before camp started, so I had that base underneath me and I was ready to go,” Warner said.
“I used it to my advantage, to come back strong. Having 10 days off you can say I have ‘fresh legs.’ That’s the joke around the building. I’m ready to go. I’m physically and mentally where I need to be.”
He’ll be starting at middle linebacker in Sunday’s opener against an Arizona Cardinals offense that is more dangerous than years, including quarterback Kyler Murray, running back Kenyan Drake and especially wide receivers DeAndre Hopkins and Larry Fitzgerald.
Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh is confident Warner is up for the challenge, after facing this season’s most daunting and invisible opponent, COVID-19.
Through two practices, Warner “looks fine to me,” Saleh said. “He’s exciting to be around. He looks good and I’m not expecting any restrictions for him.”
