Fred Warner is dismissing the notion that an overly zealous effort to strip the ball led to one of the most bizarre injuries of the San Francisco 49ers’ training camp.
During the second day of practices in July, running back Jordan James sustained broken ribs—a highly uncommon setback given that players were not yet wearing pads.
Fred Warner made it clear that the widely shared footage of a practice punch-out was not the moment Jordan James broke his ribs. Instagram/@footballforever
A subsequent video made the rounds showing Warner seemingly swiping at the ball while James ran with it, leading to rumors that the All-Pro linebacker mistakenly struck his teammate’s ribs during the strip attempt.
On Tuesday, Warner broke his silence on the matter, clarifying that the popular video did not capture the actual play where James got hurt.
“Regarding that specific play, I’m aware of the footage going around featuring Jordan and myself, but that wasn’t when the injury occurred,” Warner explained. “It was simply an unlucky contact between us during a non-padded session. I wasn’t actively trying to strip the ball away.”
This clarification is significant because the mishap had rapidly been categorized as an accidental blow delivered by Warner’s signature defensive move.
San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner (#54) watches from the sideline ahead of a matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on Sunday, October 12, 2025, in Tampa, Florida. Getty Images
Interim head coach Chris Foerster had earlier characterized the event as a “perfect storm,” noting that an attempt to strip the ball coincided with James spinning to produce a clumsy impact.
The timing of the injury was incredibly unfortunate for James.
As the young ball-carrier arrived at camp hoping to secure a spot behind Christian McCaffrey, his absence from the field has opened the door for rookie Kaelon Black to make strides in the depth chart battle.
At the same time, Warner continues to serve as a primary leader for a 49ers defensive unit that has rapidly reclaimed its intense demeanor.
Recently, newly acquired defensive lineman Osa Odighizuwa spoke of the experienced linebacker as having a “menacing aura,” a reputation Warner has built through seasons of uncompromisingly aggressive play.
While there is no toning down Warner’s aggressive approach, he maintains that the painful outcome of this specific play was entirely accidental.
