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(Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

San Francisco 49ers star Fred Warner will be a little lighter in his wallet after being fined by the NFL for a play in the Week 3 win over the Arizona Cardinals. The 49ers veteran recorded 11 tackles, but one of them came with a financial penalty.

On September 27, the NFL released its weekly Gameday Accountability report. The report, agreed upon with the NFL Players Association, outlines game-related rules violations that could lead to accountability measures, aiming to protect players from unnecessary risk and maintain competitive balance and game integrity.

Warner appeared on this week’s report for unnecessary roughness after he made use of the helmet in the first quarter at the 13:01 mark. The NFL is fining the linebacker $23,186 for the action.

49ers Cannot Afford to Lose Fred Warner

While no player is good with being fined, the 49ers cannot afford to lose Warner to any suspension. As a result, a fine is the ideal outcome for San Francisco and the player, considering the team has already lost Nick Bosa on the defensive side of the football.

Furthermore, with defensive coordinator Robert Saleh having a young group, Warner’s veteran leadership is pivotal. Nonetheless, Warner did admit after the win over the Cardinals that the young talent did elevate their play after Bosa left with his injury.

“I think it speaks to the work that they’ve all put in and their maturity,” Warner said postgame (h/t NBC Sports Bay Area & California). “I’ve got to give it to them and the way that they’ve prepared, which has allowed them to come in and be ready for their moments. They don’t play like rookies. They’re coming in week in and week out, making these big-time plays, and we’re going to need them to continue to do so.”

Fred Warner Must Be the Go-to Leader for 49ers

While San Francisco will miss Bosa for what he does rushing the quarterback, no doubt, not having his leadership is going to be felt when the players are out on the field.

“He’s a leader on this team,” NFL analyst Damien Harris said on the September 21 edition of “CBS Sports HQ.” “Maybe not the most vocal, since we know he’s a quiet guy, but on the field, he’s like Micah Parsons—commanding attention and elevating everyone around him. The guys play better because they see him as the fearless leader they need to match.

“That’s how you build a complete defense, instead of relying on just one star player. Losing someone like Nick Bosa, though, is tough—especially for an injury-plagued team like the San Francisco 49ers.”

Warner is a leader on the team, but he will also need to elevate that characteristic to ensure that any player on the defensive side of the ball can count on him now that Bosa isn’t around on the field.

Moreover, with this fine, the veteran might have to play smarter to ensure that there’s no potential suspension from the league if they feel as though the San Francisco star is a repeat offender of using his helmet to make a tackle on an opposing player.