The San Francisco 49ers officially clinched a playoff spot in Week 16, and this was all before the team even played. There’s still a lot to play for, with the NFC West title within reach, and they will face a tough test against the Chicago Bears in Week 17.
The 49ers made the playoffs with three games to go before the end of the regular season, which is an astonishing development following the injuries suffered by Nick Bosa and Fred Warner early in the season. It’s fair for fans to wonder whether they’ll be back for the playoffs.
Latest Updates on Fred Warner and Nick Bosa’s Injuries
Both Bosa and Warner suffered long-term injuries, and their estimated recovery period is long. The first injury happened to Bosa. The star defensive end suffered a knee injury during the Week 3 game against the Arizona Cardinals, and, while there was expectation that he avoided a major injury, the former Defensive Player of the Year ended up with a torn ACL.
It was the third time in his football career that he needed knee surgery, and the second since he joined the NFL. He will not return this season.
Bosa, the second overall pick of the 2019 NFL Draft, also missed most of the 2020 season with a knee injury. Even though he did not have his best year in 2024, he’s by far the best pass rusher in San Francisco, with 53.5 sacks in the past four years. Since 2019, he’s ranked as the No. 10 EDGE in our PFSN EDGE Impact Metric.
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Fred Warner, on the other hand, suffered a broken and dislocated ankle in the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and was expected to miss the rest of the season. However, recent reports indicate that if the 49ers reach the NFC Championship Game, Warner could be available to play due to his sensational rehab.
He has been stellar for the 49ers, with multiple All-Pro nominations since he was a third-round pick in 2018. Having Warner back is crucial for San Francisco, but for that to happen, the team must make a deep playoff run.
Look who’s here pic.twitter.com/ik29ixBrlS
— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) December 28, 2025
More importantly, Warner has been reliable. Before he was hurt in 2025, he had missed a single game for San Francisco in his career. He established himself as the leader of the defense despite numerous defensive coordinators and continued to play at a high level, regardless of the circumstances.
Since Robert Saleh returned to lead the defense, the group has been steady, even with its losses. But they’ll have to do it in the playoffs without their two best players.
According to PFSN’s NFL Playoff Predictor, the 49ers currently have a 22.60% chance to end the season as the top seed in the NFC. If they win all their remaining games, San Francisco will have a bye in the first round, allowing their players to get sufficient rest.
San Francisco 49ers’ Stats and Insights for Week 17
Team:Â The San Francisco 49ers have clinched a playoff spot. If the 49ers win their final two games, they will win the NFC West and be the top seed in the NFC.
QB: Brock Purdy registered a QBi score of 85.6 (B) in Week 16 against the Colts. The performance helped Purdy pass Josh Allen for the top spot in the QBi season rankings.
Offense:Â The 49ers have scored 85 points and have not punted in the last two games. In 18 drives, they scored nine touchdowns, made five field goals, had two turnovers, a missed field goal, and a kneel-down to end a game.
Defense:Â The 49ers have nine takeaways during the current five-game win streak.
Fantasy: Jauan Jennings has scored in four straight, and Brock Purdy has consecutive games looking like the uber-efficient QB we know him to be. Jennings is a nice play in all formats, and that status doesn’t hinge on the health of Ricky Pearsall.
