San Francisco 49ers captain Fred Warner has been slapped with the third and biggest fine of his NFL career.

At the 13:01 mark in the first quarter, during the 4th and 1 down, QB Kyler Murray gave the ball to RB James Conner to gain the 1 yard, which they did. But the NFL surveillance team caught the number 54 on camera using his helmet to stop Conner and fined him $23,186 for use of the helmet under the ‘Unnecessary Roughness’ fine category. However, he was not the only player from that game who was forced to part with some cash.

Even the Cardinals TE Trey McBride was given a 5-figure punishment ($11,593) by the league for taunting in the 2nd quarter. In fact, Warner, too, was dangerously close to being financially penalized for something similar.

In the 3rd quarter, when WR Marvin Harrison Jr. dropped a pass, Warner ran towards him. He kept his hand behind, but did say something to the receiver, who quietly walked away with his head hanging down. Warner finished the game with 11 tackles (5 solo) and 2 defended passes, as the 49ers beat the Cardinals 16-15.

For Kyle Shanahan and his team, his defensive captain has always risen to the occasion. In August, he found himself in the 16th spot on NFL Network‘s annual “Top 100 Players” list. This year, the Niners have invested heavily in him, giving him a 3-year $63 million contract in May.

Now, the coach is preparing for the Week 4 matchup against the Jaguars.

Kyle Shanahan makes roster moves

The biggest issue for the Niners has finally been solved. Their main QB, Brock Purdy (left shoulder and toe), and his backup, Mac Jones (knee), were dealing with injuries. While Purdy had limited practice on Wednesday and Thursday, he had full participation on Friday, September 26, after which they listed him clear for the Week 4 game.

The injury report listed Jones as questionable until Friday, but on Saturday, they cleared him. And he will be on the sidelines against the Jaguars, waiting for his snaps if Purdy takes a rest. In the 2 games without their starter, the backup held them strong, throwing for 4 touchdowns and only 1 interception. That’s solid compared to Purdy’s 2 TDs and 2 picks in the season opener.

So, Kyle Shanahan will be happy after getting his starter back. But he is also focused on his defense.

They elevated the veteran CB Eli Apple from the practice squad to the 53-man roster. 2025 is his 10th season in the NFL. After playing 102 games (82 starters), he has logged 383 tackles (312 solo), 61 defended passes, 6 interceptions, and 3 forced fumbles.

Another positive sign for their offense was WR Ricky Pearsall coming back to full health after his knee injury. The Week 4 game will be a great watch, as the Jaguars are looking for their 3rd win. Can they break the 49ers’ defense led by Warner? Expect a clash of battle-hardened soldiers!