49ers Look To Rookie Qb
Patience? There’s no time for patience when a team is in full panic mode.
The 49ers may have no other choice Sunday but to start their quarterback of the future approximately two seasons and 15 weeks ahead of schedule. Rookie Jim Druckenmiller was the only quarterback to work with the first team in practice Wednesday, four days before the 49ers play the St. Louis Rams.
What makes Druckenmiller a logical choice to start is that he’s the only quarterback on the roster without any immediate health concerns.
The last time the 49ers started a rookie quarterback was Dec. 2, 1979, when Joe Montana completed 5 of 12 for 36 yards and was replaced by Steve DeBerg in a 13-10 loss to the then-St. Louis Cardinals.
Coach Steve Mariucci will rule out Steve Young today or catch the brunt of what would certainly be a mudslide of criticism if he allows Young to play against the Rams and against the recommendation of a neurologist.
And backup Jeff Brohm is questionable with a chipped bone in the middle finger of his throwing hand. Brohm did not practice Wednesday, but will try to throw passes today.
That leaves Druckenmiller.
“He’s going to get better each day of his life for eight years,” Mariucci said. “To say he’s completely ready to go in this game, whoa, that’s a mouthful.
“Maybe patience is out the window with Druck because he might be playing some this week.”
The 49ers flew in Mike McCoy, a 25-year-old first-year quarterback from Utah, and will likely sign him. McCoy went to training camp with the 49ers but did not play in the preseason.
Seau to decide status by Friday
San Diego Chargers linebacker Junior Seau practiced Wednesday and said the “outlook for me playing soon is great.”
Seau hasn’t played since undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery on Aug. 4, two days after the exhibition opener. He’s still listed as questionable on the injury report, and said he needs to decide before Friday whether he can play Sunday at New Orleans.
Seau said there’s no pain in the knee, “just insecurity” on how it might respond under game conditions.
Westbrook’s punching bag to start
Less than three weeks after he was beaten up by teammate Michael Westbrook, Stephen Davis stands to get his first pro start because of an injury to Terry Allen.
And, while Davis becomes the centerpiece of coach Norv Turner’s power offense for at least one week, Westbrook may again be relegated to a backup role. Westbrook didn’t catch a pass coming off the bench in the season opener, and Turner said he would wait until Friday to name his starting receivers for Sunday’s game at Pittsburgh.
“This is an opportunity to show people I play football,” Davis said. “And I’m not somebody to cause trouble or anything like that.”
The running back is getting another turn in the spotlight because Allen’s left thumb was broken on a late out-of-bounds hit early in the second half of Sunday night’s 24-10 victory at Carolina. Allen stayed in the game and later scored a touchdown in a 25-carry, 141-yard performance. He is officially listed as “doubtful” for Sunday.
Around the league
The Miami Dolphins placed defensive end Daniel Stubbs on injured reserve after he underwent season-ending knee surgery, the team said. … Strapped for roster space with injuries to two more starters, the Green Bay Packers placed rookie kicker Brett Conway, their third-round draft choice, on injured reserve, ending his season. Conway was replaced by rookie walk-on Ryan Longwell from the University of California, who has hit all nine of his field goals… . The Jaguars signed quarterback Jim Miller, the former Pittsburgh Steelers’ backup, to a one-year contract… . Green Bay Packers nose tackle Gilbert Brown pleaded guilty to one count of misdemeanor disorderly conduct stemming from a domestic dispute with his 23-year-old live-in girlfriend.