Fred Warner, 49ers’ pass defense stand out in heated session with Titans’ Cam Ward

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw haven’t been able to play a lot of football in the past year. So maybe it shouldn’t have been surprising there were so many scuffles in Tuesday’s highly charged joint practice, including on the first snap of the day.

The San Francisco 49ers’ defense and Tennessee Titans’ offense, in fact, had to be separated after three of the first six plays, including when cornerback Renardo Green blasted Tennessee’s top draft pick, receiver Carnell Tate, out of bounds following a catch at the sideline. Warner, San Francisco’s defensive captain, had to play the role of peacemaker after that one, corralling teammates and ushering them toward the 49ers’ sideline.

But he also did his part in fanning the flames, including a practice-long jawing session with Titans quarterback Cam Ward, the No. 1 pick in last year’s draft.

In most cases, the 49ers and their opponents are on opposite sides of the field — 160 feet apart — when they’re not playing. During a red zone period Tuesday, however, the two sides were just a few yards apart. And at one point, a Tennessee assistant had to restrain an animated Ward from walking over to the 49ers linebacker.

Warner said he was happy to find an opponent who would engage him.

“I think Cam’s one of the unique quarterbacks where he’s not afraid to sit there and play a game with you,” he said. “Whether that’s a positive or negative, I think that’s still yet to be seen from their side. We’ll see. But for me, I’m always trying to get the quarterback out of his game. And any time I’m in that mode, it’s only going to amplify my game.”

Ward said he and Warner chatted amicably after practice and that the linebacker even gave him some tips on better controlling the middle of the field.

“I got him riled up a little bit,” Ward said. “But that’s what I want to see. I want him to be at his best so I can be at my best and know what I can and can’t do in a game. So he helped me out a lot today.”

The Titans clearly were upset with the rough stuff early on.

Following Green’s big hit, linebacker Tatum Bethune and Titans tackle Austin Deculus tangled at the bottom of the pile, with Deculus being sent off the field for swinging his fists. Greenlaw and backup linebacker Nick Martin also had big hits after short passes, with Martin, another linebacker whose 2025 season was cut short by injury, bringing his opponent to the ground.

Later in the practice, defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa grabbed Ward for a would-be sack. Left tackle Dan Moore Jr. took exception to a defender pawing his quarterback, and another melee ensued. Moore was ejected from the practice for throwing a punch.

Ward was 17 of 27 in 11-on-11 situations Tuesday and was efficient during the red zone drill, throwing touchdown passes to receiver Calvin Ridley and running back Tony Pollard.

But the bulk of his completions came on screens and short throws, and his best opportunities deep down the field couldn’t be hauled in by his receivers. He was twice flushed from the pocket by third-round rookie Romello Height. On another play, Ward forced a throw to Wan’Dale Robinson in tight coverage, allowing safety Ji’Ayir Brown to step forward and pick off the pass.

That play also ended in a brief dustup involving cornerbacks Green and Upton Stout. During the ensuing delay, Warner walked from the sideline to the east end zone, raising both arms to pump up the crowd.

After all, it’s been a while since he’s been able to do that.

“That’s why I love joint practices,” he said afterward. “You really have an opportunity to work on your craft and really see where your team is.”

Odds and ends

• One of the most prominent 49ers defenders on Tuesday: linebacker Larry Worth III, the undrafted rookie out of Arkansas. He was in on at least two run stops at the line of scrimmage and was also effective rushing the passer. He had a would-be sack on Will Levis midway through the practice. Later, he and fellow rookie Jaden Dugger chased Ward out of bounds for what would have been a sack or no gain.

The 49ers are light at defensive end, but the Titans have issues at center and right guard. They also lost Moore to the ejection late in the practice, and their pass protection struggled throughout.

• The 49ers had one other interception, which came on the same snap on which Worth “sacked” Levis. The quarterback continued the play, and his throw to the right side of the field was grabbed by backup nickelback Jakob Robinson.

• The 49ers’ defense mostly held Tate, the No. 4 pick in April’s draft, in check. Ward threw behind him on one play, the rookie couldn’t quite get both feet inbounds on another at the sideline and Ward fired too high on a red zone attempt in the back of the end zone. Safety Marques Sigle appeared to be in position for a big blow if Tate had managed to grab the pass.

Their best connection came late in the practice when Ward threaded a pass just over Warner’s outstretched hand to Tate in the middle of the field.

• Though San Francisco’s pass defense looked efficient, the Titans had some big gains on runs up the middle, including a 25-yarder from Tyjae Spears, who had to be run out of bounds by Brown.

• Both teams practiced punt returns, with Jordan Watkins, Junior Bergen, Will Pauling and Trenton Irwin taking turns for the 49ers. All four handled their opportunities cleanly.

• After practice, coach Kyle Shanahan said he doesn’t expect many of his starters to play in Thursday’s opener. By contrast, Titans coach Robert Saleh said all of the healthy starters on his relatively young squad would play.

• Warner was part of a 2023 defense that finished with 22 interceptions and helped lead the team to the Super Bowl. But he said this year’s secondary might be the best he’s seen.

“I don’t know if I’ve felt that confident in that part of the game as I feel right now,” he said. “That’s not a knock on any team that I’ve played with before. But I think this group is kind of meshing together, playing together, sticky in coverage, playing the ball in the air. … I think it’s one of the best I’ve seen thus far. I’m really excited.”