In Week 6, the 49ers were on the road to face the Buccaneers. Both teams entered the game at 4-1. San Francisco had multiple injuries in Week 6.
Brock Purdy, George Kittle and Rick Pearsall were unavailable for the Niners’ offense. In the end, the team lost to the Buccaneers 30-19. San Francisco is currently in a four-way tie for first place in the NFC West with a record of 4 wins and 2 losses. The 49ers suffered a critical injury in Week 6 against the Bucks. All-Pro LB Fred Warner dislocated his ankle. It’s a season-ending injury for the 28-year-old.
Fred Warner dislocates his ankle in the Week 6 loss, ending his season.
from @GMFB: #49ers LB Fred Warner, one of the NFL’s best players, is out for the season. meanwhile, #backs WR Emeka Egbuka is expected to miss the game with a hamstring injury. pic.twitter.com/hvgbBBvDZA
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 13, 2025
San Francisco’s defense took a big hit in Week 6 of the 2025 season. Veteran LB Fred Warner dislocated his ankle in the first quarter. Warner was dragged off the field in a cart and had to have his ankle put in an air cast. That’s never a good sign. Fred Warner’s teammates were visibly shaken when their defensive captain went down. Safety Ziair Brown immediately took a knee when he saw Warner injured.
Brown appeared emotional as he spoke to reporters after the game. He called Fred Warner like a “big brother.” Additionally, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan emphasized that the entire team is heartbroken for Fred Warner. Left tackle Trent Williams said Warner is “the heart and soul of this team.” Fred Warner missed the final 11 games of the season, making things tough for San Francisco defensively.
Fred Warner has only missed one game in his entire career, Week 13 against Seattle in 2021. pic.twitter.com/UB4DZxQeN0
— SFdata9ers🏈📊 (@sfdata9ers) October 12, 2025
Since entering the NFL in 2018, Fred Warner has been a cornerstone of the 49ers franchise. He was a third-round pick out of BYU. In eight seasons with the Niners, Warner started all 121 games he played in. Additionally, Warner has only missed one game due to injury in his career. That number will grow to 12 games after the 2025 season.
When Fred Warner went down in Week 6, Tatum Bethune took his place in MLB. Bethune was a seventh-round pick by the 49ers in the 2024 draft out of Florida State University. As a rookie, Bethune appeared in 11 games and started one. In Week 6, Tatum Bethune led the Niners with 10 tackles. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said Bethune will get the first opportunity to take over while Fred Warner is out. This is a big opportunity for the 24-year-old, who is in his second season.