The San Francisco 49ers have a Wild Card Round playoff game against the Philadelphia Eagles, but the Niners received promising news if they advance in the next two rounds and reach the NFC title game.
Since the early part of the 2025 NFL season, San Francisco have been without Nick Bosa and Fred Warner. Nonetheless, over the last couple of weeks, there’s been talk that Warner could return if the 49ers have a deep playoff run. Well, there’s more confirmation that this situation could play out.
On Jan. 10, FOX NFL insider Jay Glazer shared that Warner returning if the Niners reach the NFC title game is a real possibility.
“Fred Warner has blown past all his rehab markers,” Glazer said on the FOX NFL pregame show before the Los Angeles Rams–Carolina Panthers playoff game. “I’m actually told if they get to the NFC Championship game, they’re holding out hope. They think there could be a chance that Fred Warner could actually go in that game.”
Moreover, there could be more good news coming to the Niners. Multiple social posts late Jan. 10 circulated the claim that star left tackle Trent Williams is expected to play Sunday against the Eagles, attributing the update to Glazer.
ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter also reported on Jan. 10 that with Ricky Pearsall listed as questionable for the game in Philadelphia on Jan. 11, the 49ers activated WR Malik Turner.
49ers Respect Eagles QB Jalen Hurts
Despite the Eagles’ rollercoaster season on offense, Jalen Hurts posted a passer rating of 98.5 with 3,224 yards, 25 touchdowns, and six interceptions in 16 games, per StatMuse.
As a result, 49ers head coach Shanahan understands they are playing the reigning Super Bowl champions, and eliminating them won’t be easy, especially if Jalen Hurts has a big game. Shanahan spoke with the media on Jan. 7 and was asked about Hurts.
“So, you got to honor the entire field with them. And anytime you have a quarterback who’s capable of doing that, who also is a threat every single play throughout an entire game with his legs, it’s an issue, whether he uses it or not.
“When someone is a threat like that, you have to adjust certain things that you don’t have to worry about versus other people. And whether they do it or not, you got to honor it, and that slows down your whole defense as a whole.”
Eagles Have Concerns About 49ers QB Brock Purdy
Moreover, the Eagles are also worried about the 49ers’ QB, Brock Purdy, who will be looking to bounce back after his Week 18 performance in the loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
Despite the challenging game against Seattle, the Eagles’ defensive coordinator, Vic Fangio, understands that Purdy can harm his unit and isn’t taking the QB lightly.
“He’s a scrambler,” Fangio said while speaking to reporters on Jan. 6. “When he’s scrambling, he’s looking down the field. His eyes go down the field. He’s wanting to throw out of the scramble before he decides to run it. He’s very good at it. They have a lot of maximum play-action type protections, where he’s going to have some time anyway. Then, if he doesn’t like what he sees, can buy even more time. And I think that’s why his average is up there so high, as far as holding the ball.”
