Near the end of games at Candlestick Park, the
media leaves the press box and watches the final minutes
from the sideline.
On Sunday, as I watched safety Reggie Smith and linebacker Takeo Spikes
tackle Rams running back Steven Jackson — nearly 700 pounds of humanity
colliding, loudly, several yards in front of me — I was reminded just how violent NFL
games are and what kind of physical punishment the players endure.
Today, I was reminded again of what it takes to play in
the NFL as left tackle Joe Staley recounted matter-of-factly how he played
several snaps Sunday with a cracked fibula in his left leg. The fibula was so
unstable that it broke on Troy Smith’s 16-yard touchdown pass to Michael
Crabtree in the fourth quarter. (Staley was injured early in the fourth quarter
and left to get X-rays, which were negative, before he returned).
“When we scored that touchdown, that’s when I for sure
knew because I could feel (the bone) moving all around,” Staley said. “But it
about three or four plays where I felt like something was wrong … I think it
was cracked at that point. The touchdown play is when I knew it was 100 percent
broken. It was just painful but it wasn’t anything like …”
Staley didn’t finish the thought, but the implication was
clear. It hurt, but no big deal.
Of course, Staley’s injury is a big deal for the Niners.
He is expected to miss four to six weeks, but Mike Singletary said he wouldn’t
be placed on injured reserve in the event the 49ers make the playoffs.
The
leading candidates to replace Staley are Barry Sims and Adam Snyder, who had to
leave Sunday’s game with a shoulder sprain. Singletary expects Snyder to be
able to play Sunday against visiting Tampa Bay. Snyder, who was expected to
have an MRI today, started in place of Chilo Rachal at right guard against St.
Louis after Rachal missed two practices last week for the birth of his son.
Singletary said Rachal would start at right guard Sunday against visiting
Tampa Bay.
Sims, a 12-year veteran, started seven games at left
tackle last year when Staley was sidelined with sprained knee ligaments and
performed surprisingly well. He has been inactive in eight of nine games this
season. Snyder, a six-year veteran, has made 21 starts at right tackle since
2008, but hasn’t started at left tackle at 2007. He started 21 games at left
tackle from 2005-07.
• Reggie Smith expected to spell rookie Taylor Mays on
Sunday at strong safety. As it turns out, Mays got more than a breather. He
also got extended time on the bench.
Smith, who entered with five career tackles, played significantly
more snaps and had five tackles against St. Louis. Mays did not have a tackle.
“I assumed going into the game, I would go in there and
give him a little breather,” Smith said. “It just happened I stayed in there
longer, I really don’t know why.”
Said Singletary on the Smith-Mays rotation, “We’re going
to continue to do what we did yesterday … Taylor’s going to
continue to learn and get better and Reggie is just going to continue doing
what he’s doing and it’s going to play itself out.”
• K Joe Nedney’s status is uncertain for Sunday’s game.
Nedney had an MRI today on his right knee, which he injured on the opening
kickoff against St. Louis. Nedney, who was initially announced as questionable
to return, stayed in the game and made all three field-goal attempts.
• Alex Smith’s assessment of Troy Smith’s performance on
Sunday, “I thought he did a great job. The explosive plays really stand out
yesterday. Hit a lot of deep balls, a lot of game-changing things, changing
field positions, big plays. That’s a lot of momentum in a game and he did a
great job of hitting those.”
• Shortly after his spectacular 43-yard touchdown catch
Sunday, TE Vernon Davis said he saw the penalty flag on the field. An offensive
holding call wiped out Davis’ catch.
In case he hadn’t seen the flag, Davis said a few of the
Rams advised him not to get carried away with his end-zone celebration.
Said Davis, “The Rams defensive guys said ‘Don’t get too
happy. Take a look.'”
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