Posted at 1:30 a.m., Tuesday, December 4, 2007
NFL: 49ers QB Smith to test injured throwing arm
Advertiser Staff
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith, who has not thrown a football in two weeks, says he plans to test his injured right shoulder and forearm with light throwing later this week.Smith suffered a separated throwing shoulder in Week 4 against Seattle, then played with pain in three games after returning in late October. The shoulder injury did not heal on its own as anticipated and Smith developed a forearm problem after returning.
He has not played since Nov. 12 at Seattle. On the advice of team doctors and orthopedic specialist Dr. James Andrews, Smith has rested the past two weeks though he has been in uniform as the 49ers' designated third quarterback.
Smith said he does not expect his throwing to take place within the team's practice structure. His injuries then will be re-evaluated at the end of this week, with surgery a possible option. Smith does not know if he will play again this season.
"It will kind of be a final evaluation of whether it's going to heal on its own or we're going to get it fixed," Smith said yesterday. "We'll have to see how this week goes as far as throwing and take it from there. The way everything's gone, I'd definitely like to come back and play this year."
