While star teammates such as quarterback Brock Purdy, tight end George Kittle, receivers Deebo Samuel Sr. and Brandon Aiyuk and defensive end Nick Bosa have missed games because of injury this season, San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner has been a stalwart.

But, as it turns out, that's not because Warner hasn't been dealing with his share of pain. Warner revealed for the first time Wednesday that he has been playing through a fractured bone in his ankle that he sustained in a Sept. 29 win against the New England Patriots, Nick Wagoner of ESPN reports.

That means when the Niners meet the Buffalo Bills on Sunday night, Warner will be playing his eighth consecutive game with the ankle injury.

"It's something I deal with every game," Warner said. "I get on that table before every game and get it shot up every single game just to be able to roll. But it's not an excuse. It's just what it is. That's the NFL. You're not going to be healthy. You've got to go out there, you've got to find ways to execute, to play at a high level and to win every single week."

Warner initially injured the ankle against the Patriots near the end of a first half in which he had already posted seven tackles and an interception for a touchdown on just 27 snaps. He did not play in the second half and expressed optimism after that game that he'd be OK.

In the following week, before the Week 5 matchup with the Arizona Cardinals, Warner was limited in practice but played in the game, finishing with 12 tackles, including one for loss. Warner has been a full participant in practice before every game since, though the injury has hindered him at times.

Still, Warner has 84 tackles, 1 sack, 4 forced fumbles and 2 interceptions on the season.

Asked whether the ankle would be able to heal before the end of the season, Warner acknowledged that was unlikely and he's going to have to continue playing through pain in order to reach the finish line.

"Any time you fracture a bone, if you just continue to play on it, the bone is usually not going to be able to heal itself," Warner said. "So, just got to continue to just fight through

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