With Niners' Season Hanging in Balance, Severity of A. Smith's Shoulder Injury Should be Known Soon

The San Francisco 49ers should have a better idea within the next day or two how long they'll be without injured quarterback Alex Smith.

Coach Mike Nolan said earlier in the week that he wouldn't guess at a timetable before Thursday. Smith suffered what the team called a third-degree separation of his right shoulder on a sack during Sunday's loss to the Seattle Seahawks. ESPN reported that Smith is seeking a second opinion from Birmingham orthopedist James Andrews and could be facing season-ending surgery.

Trent Dilfer is scheduled to start this weekend's game against the Baltimore Ravens. The 49ers have a bye week after that, and Nolan and Smith had expressed hope that Smith might be able to return to the lineup following the bye.

Smith, the top overall selection in the 2005 NFL draft, had taken every snap for the 49ers since the beginning of last season before being hurt Sunday. He had struggled in the season's early going--he is only the league's 27th-rated passer this week--after it was hoped that his continued development, combined with some expensive offseason upgrades at other positions, would make the 49ers a playoff contender. Their record dropped to 2-2 with the defeat to the Seahawks.

By Mark Maske |  October 3, 2007; 11:00 AM ET  | Category:  49ers
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