Doesn't look good for Smith; 49ers eye QBs
REPAIRED SHOULDER COULD NOW HAVE A FRACTURE
By Daniel Brown
Mercury News
Article Launched: 09/07/2008 09:30:42 PM PDT


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Purdy: 49ers can't seem to find wide receiversKillion: Where do the 49ers go from here?Five turnovers don't help 49ers cause49ers' Report CardPatriots' Brady might be done for seasonAlex Smith said he wouldn't know the outlook on his latest shoulder injury until Monday.

But so far, so bad.

Minutes before kickoff Sunday, Smith did not rule out the possibility that his season was already over. And the 49ers were making plans to get by without him. Coach Mike Nolan acknowledged that the team has identified two free-agent quarterbacks to pursue in case Smith is out.

Smith, the 49ers' star-crossed No. 1 pick, felt pain in his shoulder during practice Friday. He recalled that he "let a ball go" on a deep throw and felt an immediate pain.

It might be a fractured shoulder.

"Potentially. They're trying to figure that out," Smith said.

The 49ers sent an MRI exam and other medical records to Dr. James Andrews, the surgeon who performed Smith's shoulder surgery in December. The 49ers were expected to talk to Andrews on Monday to determine a course of action.

Asked if his season might be over, Smith responded: "We should find out tomorrow."

Smith was on the inactive list for the Arizona game. There was no designated No. 3 quarterback. To resolve that situation, Nolan said the 49ers are eyeing a pair of free-agent quarterbacks. He did not name them, except to say that one was young and one was veteran.


The Candlestick Park elevator that carries coaches from the press level to the field got stuck at halftime. As a result, assistant coaches from both teams were forced to make a mad dash through
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the press box, then run an obstacle course through the stands to get to the locker rooms.

"They were just breathing really hard when they came in," said Cardinals Coach Ken Whisenhunt of his assistants. "They got there, but they had to do a little bit of running. It's a good thing that I make them run sprints after practice."


49ers defensive linemen fumed over a controversial roughing-the-passer penalty on Ray McDonald with 6:05 left to play in the third quarter.

On third-and-9 from the 49ers' 21, quarterback Kurt Warner hit Edgerrin James on a pass for no gain.

But officials ruled that McDonald popped Warner in the helmet after the pass was out. A still-stunned McDonald later explained that there was no ill intent. "I even pulled off,'' he said. "My hands were up because I was going for the ball."

Instead of a pivotal stop, the penalty gave the Cardinals a first down at the 11. They capitalized with Tim Hightower's 2-yard touchdown run for a 20-10 lead.


The Cardinals have a tradition of letting potential victories slip through their fingers, but they sealed this one in the fourth quarter with an 18-play drive that took 10:08 minutes off the clock. It ended with Neil Rackers' 30-yard field goal.

"If you have a chance to end the game, then let's end the game," said running back Edgerrin James.


Frank Gore's 41-yard touchdown run was his eighth run of 40 or more yards and his fourth touchdown run of 40 or more yards.


A small patch of the Candlestick turf featured a tribute to the late Gene Upshaw. A black circle near the 50-yard line was marked with G.U. 63, the number he wore during a 15-year Hall of Fame career with the Raiders.


Vernon Davis' 37-yard reception in the second quarter was the third longest of his career. He had a 52-yarder and a 44-yarder previously.

Check out Daniel Brown's 49ers Hot Read at blogs.mercurynews.com/49ers. Contact him at [email protected]

• http://www.mercurynews.com/sportsheadlines/ci_10407452

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