49ers' season in jeopardy after losing Fred Warner to injury

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The San Francisco 49ers overcame a rash on injuries to star players to get off to a fast start to the 2025 season.

The season-ending ankle injury to four-time All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner might be too much as evidenced by how San Francisco's defense collapsed without its leader in a 30-19 loss to Tampa Bay on Sunday.

Warner got hurt on Tampa Bay's third offensive drive of the game and San Francisco (4-2) did manage to force a punt on that drive and the next before getting overwhelmed.

The Bucs then scored three touchdowns, one field goal and had one missed field goal on their final five drives as a young defense missing Warner and star pass rusher Nick Bosa had no answers.

Tampa Bay averaged 7.2 yards per play after Warner's injury, which would be the fifth worst for an entire game in nine seasons with Kyle Shanahan as coach as Baker Mayfield and the Bucs took advantage of some coverage busts that might not have happened if San Francisco had its defensive leader on the field.

"I don’t really try to get us to focus on anything in the past. It’s what’s happening going forward,” Shanahan said Monday. “The reality is we lost another really good player. What are we going to do about it. ... What type of team are we going to be going forward? I think we have players here we can win with, but it makes it harder to make mistakes and things like that. I thought that was something we did too much of yesterday.”

The 49ers also lost Bosa to a season-ending knee injury and Week 3 and have played significant time this season without starting quarterback Brock Purdy, star tight end George Kittle and receivers Ricky Pearsall and Brandon Aiyuk among others.

“These are moments guys have to step it up,” Shanahan said. "I'm glad that we’ve played some decent football to put us in this position at least with our record. Now we have to find a way to get better everywhere else throughout this year.”

Passing to Kendrick Bourne. With several top pass catchers out with injuries, Bourne has stepped up in a big way the past two weeks. He had five catches for 142 yards for his second straight game with at least 140 yards receiving. Bourne's previous high was 100. He became the first San Francisco wide receiver with back-to-back games with at least 140 yards receiving since Terrell Owens in 2002.

Run game. The Niners averaged just 3.0 yards per carry and were held to 67 yards on the ground. San Francisco has gone five straight games with fewer than 85 yards rushing for the first time in franchise history as the line has been unable to create holes for Christian McCaffrey. He has just 336 yards on the ground in six games and is averaging a career-low 3.1 yards per carry.

Eddy Pineiro. The Niners have clearly solved their kicking woes after signing Pineiro to replace Jake Moody after the opener. Pineiro tied a franchise record with two field goals from at least 50 yards against the Bucs and is 15 for 15 on the season. He has the most makes without a miss for any kicker in NFL history in his first five games with a team.

Pass rush. With Bosa out, the 49ers have struggled to generate any pass rush. They had one sack on Sunday and they had no other official QB hits with Upton Stout being called for roughing the passer when he hit Mayfield on a TD pass in the first half. San Francisco has only three sacks in the past four games after getting three in Week 2 against New Orleans in Bosa's last healthy game.

Warner is set for surgery on Tuesday and Shanahan said he should be back for the offseason program. ... Purdy (toe) and Pearsall (knee) will be re-evaluated Wednesday and could return to practice this week after missing the past two games. ... Kittle (hamstring) will have his practice window opened this week and could return from IR. ... DL Yetur Gross-Matos (hamstring) is expected to miss at least another week. ... WR Jordan Watkins (calf) will return to practice this week.

3. With Bosa and Warner done for the season, the 49ers are left with only three players who played more than one defensive snap in the Super Bowl following the 2023 season. Deommodore Lenoir is the team's top cornerback with Ji'Ayir Brown a contributor at safety and defensive tackle Kevin Givens hoping to return from a pectoral injury next week.

The 49ers host Atlanta on Sunday night.

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San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) runs against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half of an NFL football game in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Kendrick Bourne (84) runs against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half of an NFL football game in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan watches from the sideline during the second half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

San Francisco 49ers middle linebacker Fred Warner, right, is carted off the field during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — The Jacksonville Jaguars are still reeling from the biggest collapse in franchise history.

A month after that fourth-quarter debacle in Houston, the loss continues to "haunt" players and coaches. And they keep using it as motivation.

Trevor Lawrence threw two touchdown passes, Travis Etienne ran for two scores and the Jaguars moved atop the AFC South with a 36-19 victory against rival Indianapolis in steady rain Sunday.

The Jaguars (9-4) won their fourth consecutive game and extended the Colts’ misery in Jacksonville. Indianapolis (8-5) haven't won at EverBank Stadium since 2014, an 11-game skid that includes a matchup in London.

“At the end of the day, I feel like no one likes us except for us,” Etienne said. "It just goes along with being in this organization and the way this organization has been for some time now. We're not going to get their respect; we kind of don't even care.

“As long as we know what we have inside this locker room, we can go out there and take it. There's no better feeling than being disrespected and having an extra chip on your shoulder and having an extra edge.”

The Jaguars might not get much attention for this win, either, not with the Colts losing quarterback Daniel Jones and maybe their last legitimate hope of making the playoffs.

Already playing with a broken left leg, Jones injured his right Achilles tendon in the second quarter and could be out for the season. The injury often includes a nine-month rehab, meaning Jones could be one-and-done in Indy and the Colts could be looking for a starting quarterback in March.

“It's not looking good," coach Shane Steichen said. “Anytime you lose a guy that puts in so much work and so much effort, and is always there for his team, and showing up with a fibula injury, and goes out there and freaking plays, just so much respect for him. Just so much respect.”

Jones dropped to the ground after throwing incomplete and immediately grabbed the back of his right leg. He slammed his helmet to the ground several times before team trainers arrived. He eventually limped off the field and into the locker room for tests. The Colts quickly ruled him out.

Jacksonville led 14-7 at that point, and the Colts never threatened with backup Riley Leonard in the game. The only other quarterback on Indy's roster is Brett Rypien, who is on the practice squad.

Indy lost its third in a row and fourth in five games, a late-season slump that allowed Jacksonville and potentially Houston to move ahead in the division. Now, with Jones hurt and a daunting schedule down the stretch, it’s fair to wonder whether the Colts win again.

The Jaguars, meanwhile, keep winning and gaining confidence.

Lawrence completed 17 of 30 passes for 244 yards, with no turnovers. He connected with Jakobi Meyers and Tim Patrick for TDs.

Three of Lawrence’s completions gained at least 30 yards. Brian Thomas Jr. had his best game in nearly two months, finishing with three receptions for 87 yards. Etienne ran 20 times for 74 yards, scoring on runs of 3 and 28 yards.

Josh Hines-Allen had a sack for the fourth consecutive game, this one resulting in a safety.

Indy’s Jonathan Taylor gained 74 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries against the NFL’s stingiest run defense. Leonard completed 18 of 29 passes for 145 yards and an interception. He ran for a score late.

Soaked after three hours in the rain, the Jaguars briefly celebrated on the field before heading into the locker room. No one expects to be vaulted into the conversation of Super Bowl contenders.

“It ain't coming. You know that. It's not,” Jaguars coach Liam Coen said. “And that's the beauty of it, and that's totally fine. Houston was good for us, I do believe that.”

Colts: RT Braden Smith (concussion) and CB Chris Lammons (foot) were ruled out. WR Anthony Gould (foot) and DE JT Tuimoloau (concussion) left the game.

Jaguars: RB Bhayshul Tuten was evaluated for a concussion and cleared. He fumbled shortly after his return and played little after.

Colts play at Seattle next Sunday.

Jaguars host the New York Jets next Sunday.

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Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen (41) sacks Indianapolis Colts quarterback Riley Leonard (15) in the end zone for a safety during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) is hit by Indianapolis Colts safety Nick Cross (20) as he throws a pass during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Jakobi Meyers (3) makes a catch over Indianapolis Colts cornerback Mekhi Blackmon (29) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones (17) grabs his leg after an injury during the first half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen (41) celebrates after getting a safety against the Indianapolis Colts during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)