SANTA CLARA — The 49ers got good news regarding linebacker Fred Warner Monday and clarified the condition on running back Christian McCaffrey.
Warner was listed as “day to day” with an ankle injury after missing the second half of Sunday’s 30-13 win over the New England Patriots at Levi’s Stadium. It was Warner’s 45-yard interception return for a touchdown that put the 49ers’ up 13-0 after settling for short field goals on their first two drives.
“If it’s a high ankle sprain you know it’s going to take some time,” Shanahan said in his weekly conference call with local writers. “I know he’s hurting today but when you say he’s day to day it gives him a chance to heal up this week.”
If so, Warner has a chance to be on the field when the 49ers (2-2) host the Arizona Cardinals (1-3) Sunday at Levi’s Stadium.
McCaffrey, meanwhile, was at the stadium after returning from Germany to receive treatment for Achilles tendinitis. As general manager John Lynch said last week in KNBR, McCaffrey has “bilateral Achilles tendinitis” — which means both Achilles tendons are affected.
“During the time (he’s been out) he’s had it in both,” Shanahan said. “I think it started with one, he overcompensated and it went to the other. One has been bothering him but he’s had it in both.”
According to Lynch, the next step is building McCaffery back up physically in a “smart and thoughtful way.”
McCaffrey is eligible to return from injured reserve on Thursday, Oct. 10 in Seattle but it’s more likely he’ll be out until the midway point of the season and potentially beyond.
Other players who were injured and listed as “day to day” along with Warner were wide receiver Jacob Cowing (shoulder), defensive tackle Jordan Elliott (knee), tight end George Kittle (knee), wide receiver Chris Conley (oblique) and fullback Kyle Juszczyk (shoulder).
After spending the first four games of the season on the non-football injury list, wide receiver Ricky Pearsall is eligible to begin a 21-day window of practice sessions to determine when he can be added to the 53-man roster. Shanahan said he wasn’t sure if Pearsall’s window would begin this week.
Defensive tackle Kalia Davis, however, could come off injured reserve and begin his practice window as soon as Wednesday.
Warner went to the postgame podium Sunday without a limp but stopped well short of proclaiming he’d be good to go this week.
“It was all based off of feel,” Warner said. “It would take a lot for me to tap out, right?. If I could have been out there I would have been. We’ll get more information as we go with the scans and all that. I feel good right now.”
In just 28 snaps, Warner had seven tackles, just one behind team leader Ji’Ayir Brown who played all 64 snaps and had eight stops. A first-team All-Pro selection a year ago, Warner’s level of play if anything has been even higher.
“It’s kind of hard to say that, he’s been so good every year,” Shanahan said. “But the way he’s started out this year, it’s been a big-time year for him so far.”
Defensive end Nick Bosa concurred, and said the difference this year is that Warner is cashing in when plays come his way.
“He’s always played at the highest of levels,” Bosa said. “Sometimes things come your way in the game and he’s taken advantage of those opportunities. I don’t see it slowing down.”
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SNAP JUDGEMENTS
64: With Talanoa Hufanga sidelined with an ankle injury, Malik Mustapha made his starting debut and played every snap while George Odum, the starter in Weeks 1 and 2, played exclusively on special teams. Mustapha had a tackle and four assisted tackles and missed a chance at his first interception late in the game with a drop. Others who played every defensive snap were linebacker De’Vondre Campbell, cornerback Deommodore Lenoir, safety Ji’Ayir Brown and cornerback Charvarius Ward.
63: Trent Williams was questionable with a toe injury but played every offensive snap. On No. 62, he was 15 yards downfield leading Mason on a 25-yard run. He’s fine.
59: It was announced in the press box at one point that George Kittle had a rib injury. He missed just four snaps, then pretended not to know anything about it. He called his leaping 12-yard touchdown reception from Purdy one of his five best.
50: Brandon Aiyuk had the most snaps of any wide receiver on the roster. He caught two passes for 48 yards and was targeted five times by Purdy.
35: After playing 18, 19 and 17 snaps in the first three games, Kevin Givens played nearly twice that because of injuries to Javon Hargrave and an in-game injury to Jordan Elliott (14 snaps) and had 2 1/2 sacks. Givens came in with 6 1/2 career sacks in 60 games and never had more than one in a game previously.
23: Rookie third-round pick Renardo Green saw his most extensive time at cornerback after getting no snaps in the opener and four and five in Weeks 2 and 3.
16: Cornerback Isaac Yiadom played just 25 percent of the defensive snaps after having percentages of 76, 63 and 83 percent in the first three games.
4: Jacob Cowing got into the mix at wide receiver but injured a shoulder. He also relinquished punt return duties to Juszczyk
1: Spencer Burford was the only reserve offensive lineman to to get a snap, subbing for Dominic Puni for a single play when Puni was shaken up.
