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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, October 15, 2009

NFL: Despite concussions, 49ers’ Lewis plans to play after bye week


By Daniel Brown
San Jose Mercury News

Even after three concussions since Aug. 18, strong safety Michael Lewis plans on being back by Oct. 25.

“I feel great,” he said Wednesday. “I’m good to go and I’m looking forward to the Houston Texans.”
Doctors, however, will have final say. Lewis and linebacker Jeff Ulbrich were scheduled for neurological exams Wednesday. Results were not immediately announced by the team.
Lewis, 29, is in his eighth NFL season. His latest concussion came Sunday when he led with his helmet while making a tackle of Atlanta Falcons running back Michael Turner with about 11 minutes to play in the third quarter.
Coach Mike Singletary said the 49ers are monitoring the situation closely. He said the team was encouraged by the fact that Lewis regained clear thinking almost immediately after coming out of the game. Lewis was showing no ill effects by the time the game was over.
“Twenty-years ago, they would have given him smelling salts and put him back in the game,” Singletary said.
Lewis has weighed health risks for his entire career. He was diagnosed with a heart condition called atrial fibrillation while in college at Colorado. He has since become a spokesman for the American Heart Association, telling people that with treatment and a healthy lifestyle you can “live a normal life and do everything you dream of.”
-- Singletary reiterated that the 49ers would consider changes along the offensive line, but there was no shuffle yet. Chilo Rachal continued to start at right guard. Asked whether Tony Wragge might get a shot at the job, Singletary said the 49ers are considering “a couple of combinations.”
-- A day after the Miami Dolphins signed Kory Sheets off the 49ers’ practice squad, Singletary said Sheets just wasn’t ready for a promotion to the 49ers active roster. The team had concerns about Sheets’ blocking abilities.
“He’s a good runner. I like that,” Singletary said. “But there is a lot more to football than running the ball.”
-- After practice, Singletary welcomed back Khalif Mitchell by making him run. Mitchell, re-signed Tuesday to the practice squad, ran a series of wind sprints as Singletary stood and watched. Nobody else was on the field.
Mercury News Staff Writer Mark Emmons contributed to this report.