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Fred Warner isn't being given time to ease into his NFL career.

The rookie for the San Francisco 49ers is slated to start in his debut on Sunday in Minnesota at a relatively new position of middle linebacker with all the responsibilities that come with calling the defensive signals.

"I'm very excited Chandler Catanzaro Jersey , being this will be my first start," Warner said. "I'm just trying to make sure I'm as prepared as possible heading into that game on Sunday. I'm just going to do what I do, which is ball out and make plays and be the leader out there as the Mike."

The Niners drafted Warner in the third round out of BYU in part because of his ability to guard tight ends, running backs and even slot receivers in the passing game as an outside linebacker.

But Warner has spent most of his time on the inside for the 49ers and is filling the void created by the two-game suspension that has sidelined Reuben Foster.

Now instead of being counted on to show off his coverage skills in space, Warner will need to take on much bigger offensive linemen in the run game for San Francisco.

"I feel like it's kind of my natural position, you could say," Warner said. "Obviously Dalvin Tomlinson Jersey , I didn't do a lot of that in college. But just being out there, I feel like if I wasn't as natural, I probably wouldn't be doing as well as I am 鈥?and being in the position I'm in."

Playing middle linebacker comes with lots of responsibility as Warner will be the man relaying the defensive calls from coordinator Robert Saleh to the rest of the defense.

It's a task he welcomes and that his coaches feel he is more than prepared to handle.

"He was one of, if not the smartest interviews I've ever had personally at the combine for a linebacker," Saleh said. "He's picked it up well. He's got great command of it. He's got a long way to go. I don't want to crown him quite yet, but he's a rookie, he's going to have his peaks and valleys Brett Favre Jersey , but we have great confidence in him."

Warner said he never doubted he was physical enough to play in the box and said most of the critics who said he couldn't just hadn't seen him do it. Saleh credited San Francisco's scouts for finding plays from Senior Bowl week and other games that showed that Warner was willing to take on the contact that he will have to deal with in the middle of the NFL defense.

Saleh said that showed up again in the preseason and he has no questions about Warner's physicality and ability to tackle.

The bigger challenge this week might come in dealing with Minnesota's offense that relies heavily on run-pass options that make life difficult on linebackers and has star running back Dalvin Cook healthy again after last year's season-ending knee injury.

Warner said he has studied film of Cook from last year and Eagles games from last year to try to get a sense of what kind of offense new coordinator John DeFilippo runs. He particularly watched how Philadelphia played against Atlanta and the Chargers last season since those teams run a similar defensive scheme to San Francisco's.

Dealing with the RPOs that the Niners are anticipating will be key to their success.

"It puts stress on the defense as a whole if you're not prepared for it," Warner said. "So that's why we're kind of making some adjustments to make sure we're not getting hit in certain areas where we're not protected."

NOTES: LB Malcolm Smith (hamstring) is doubtful. ... LB Dekoda Watson injured his hamstring in practice and will miss the game. ... T Erik Magnuson (hamstring) is also out Sunday.
Chris Davis is feeling ”calm and easy” at the plate.

His big swings are making the Baltimore Orioles feel like winners again.

One day after hitting a drought-breaking homer, Davis belted a three-run double and Mark Trumbo hit a first-inning grand slam to power the Orioles to a 7-5 win over the Atlanta Braves on Saturday.

Davis worked on his swing for almost two weeks before returning to the lineup on Friday with his first homer since May 9, and he added more momentum to his renewed confidence with his big fifth-inning double high off the right-center wall.

”I feel a lot better,” Davis said. ”I feel like I’m getting there. I’m starting to get that calm and easy feel, seeing the ball a little bit better and putting some good swings on the ball.”

Dylan Bundy (6-7) allowed two runs and seven hits in 6 1/3 innings while improving to 3-0 in June. One day after allowing four runs and recording only one out, Zach Britton pitched around a one-out walk to Johan Camargo in the ninth to earn his first save.

The last-place Orioles have won four of six.

AL East-leading Atlanta dropped its third consecutive game. Julio Teheran (5-5) allowed a season-high seven runs in 4 2/3 innings.

Trumbo’s homer was his fourth in his last six games. He has seven homers this season after missing April with a right quad strain.

Nick Markakis Morgan Cox Jersey , who spent his first nine seasons with Baltimore, drove in three runs for Atlanta, including a two-run double off Donnie Hart in the seventh.

Ozzie Albies had four hits for the Braves, including an infield single off Mychal Givens in the eighth that sent Charlie Culberson to third base. Givens’ errant pickoff throw to first base allowed Culberson to score, cutting Baltimore’s lead to 7-5. Givens walked Freddie Freeman before striking out Markakis to end the inning.

The Orioles led 4-0 before Teheran recorded an out. Colby Rasmus walked, Adam Jones doubled and Manny Machado walked before Trumbo hit a drive to center field.

”I think the two walks in the first inning got me in trouble and I couldn’t get out,” Teheran said.

Trumbo took a called third strike from Teheran with the bases loaded in the fifth. Davis followed with his double for a 7-1 lead.

”The bases-loaded double was the big one … that really hurt.” Braves manager Brian Snitker said.

There was a 20-minute rain delay before Hart entered the game in the seventh.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Orioles: Manager Buck Showalter said OF Trey Mancini (stiff neck) needed another day before returning to the lineup. He struck out as a pinch hitter on Friday night and was held out of the lineup for the third straight game.

Braves: Closer Arodys Vizcaino was again unavailable due to a sore right shoulder. He felt more discomfort while throwing in the outfield before the game. Snitker said he hopes Vizcaino feels better on Sunday Adrian Peterson Jersey , but the team could soon face a decision on placing the right-hander on the DL.

BEATING THE BRAVES

The Orioles have won the first two games of the interleague series. Baltimore has won seven straight over Atlanta, including a three-game sweep at Camden Yards in the teams’ last series in 2015.

ROSTER MOVES

Each team needed a fresh arm in its bullpen following Friday’s night’s 15-inning game. The Orioles recalled Hart, a left-hander, from Triple-A Norfolk. Hart relieved Bundy in the seventh and allowed two runs without recording an out. Infielder Steve Wilkerson was optioned to Norfolk.

The Braves recalled right-hander Lucas Sims from Triple-A Gwinnett and optioned outfielder Preston Tucker to Gwinnett.

UP NEXT

Orioles: RHP David Hess will look to recover after allowing five runs in each of his last two starts against Washington and Boston. He is 0-2 in his last four starts.

Braves: RHP Brandon McCarthy is 2-2 with a 4.28 ERA in 10 career appearances, including eight starts, against Baltimore.

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