The San Francisco 49ers dodged a bullet as Pro-Bowl left tackle Joe Staley wasn’t seriously hurt late in the fourth quarter against the St. Louis Rams.
With 1:50 left in the game LaMichael James received the carry that went for no gain on third and four. As Staley blocked he got bent over backwards and the Edward Jones Dome microphone picked up his screams indicating that he was in agony and obvious pain. A cart did come out to take him off the field, yet he refused it walking off the field with a slight limp.
Reports have indicated that he showed no ill effect from the play. Staley also took to twitter to state this:
I’m good. And I scream like no dude should ever scream lol my bad.— Joe Staley (@jstaley74) September 27, 2013
After struggling the past two games the 49ers went back to running the football with Frank Gore rushing for 153 yards on 20 carries with a touchdown, Kendall Hunter added 49 yards on 11 carries scoring a touchdown and Anthony Dixon scored a touch down as well. Quarterback Colin Kaepernick threw for 167 yards completing 15 of 23 passes and two touchdowns, he did lose a fumble. Anquan Boldin made his presence felt with five catches, 90 yards and a touchdowns.
Vernon Davis returned to action and kept the Rams from double-teaming Boldin, while he only had two receptions one went for a touchdowns. Wide receiver Jon Baldwin making his 49er debut caught two passes for 19 yards and his presence is needed as rookie Quinton Patton left in the first quarter with a foot injury.
Defensively linebacker Navorro Bowman had a tremendous game recording six tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble. He also had a number of plays where he forced Sam Bradford to get rid of the football before he wanted to. Rookie Corey Lemonier picked up three tackles, yet did an excellent job of getting pressure as well and at one point pushed his blocker to upset the rhythm of the play in which Bradford missed a wide open receiver for what would have been an easy touchdown.
San Francisco will not play again until October 6 against the Houston Texans at home. The break gives Davis and Patrick Willis who didn’t play on Thursday due to a groin injury time to heal and get close to 100 percent.
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