By JANIE McCAULEY
AP Sports Writer
SANTA CLARA, Calif.(AP) -- Left tackle Joe Staley limped through
the 49ers locker room with a bulky brace on his sprained right
knee. Cornerback Nate Clements cradled his broken right shoulder
blade in a sling.
Both players, injured during San Francisco's 18-14 loss at
Indianapolis on Sunday, will miss at least a month and a half.
The 49ers host the Tennessee Titans on Sunday then have a quick
turnaround with a home game against the Chicago Bears on Nov.
12.
The 49ers said Staley will miss six weeks and Clements 6 to 8
weeks.
Staley has never missed a game during his three NFL seasons.
Clements has sat out all of one game, missing last year's Dec. 7
game against the New York Jets with a thumb injury to snap his
streak of 119 consecutive starts.
Coach Mike Singletary said Monday that Clements wouldn't be
placed on the season-ending injured reserve list and Staley
didn't consider his knee injury to be season-ending. Clements
underwent a CT scan and Staley had an MRI exam to further
determine the damage.
Losing these two is a big blow for the 49ers, who at 3-4 have
lost three straight games but are still optimistic about winning
the NFC West and earning the franchise's first playoff berth
since 2002.
"Obviously we're going to miss Joe Staley," Singletary said. "In
terms of how it's going to affect our offensive line, which in
essence is how it's going to affect our offense, you find a way
to win. You find a way to work around it. Obviously he will be
missed. We think a lot of Joe Staley. I'm hoping he's back real
quick because he helps us tremendously. At the same time I know
our offense will continue to get better."
On June 4, Staley signed a six-year contract extension through
2017 worth more than $40 million, a deal that includes roughly
$16 million in guaranteed money and other incentives based on
his play and whether he stays healthy. Staley, a first-round
pick in 2007 out of Central Michigan, was approached early in
the offseason by the team about a long-term deal as the 49ers
were eager to secure the anchor of their rebuilt offensive line.
Staley was hurt when the pile rolled on him Sunday.
"I've never had a knee injury in my life," Staley said. "I'm not
really speculating (how long it will be). ... I've never been
injured in my life. I haven't missed a game since my freshman
year in college, so it would be tough."
Veteran backup Barry Sims filled in for Staley on Sunday and
will remain in the starting lineup during his absence.
"Thankfully we've got great depth and a lot of great
experience," center Eric Heitmann said. "Barry is a tremendous
left tackle and he's played a ton of snaps in his career and
been very successful. It's great to have him in the lineup."
Clements is also a big-money guy on this roster. He received an
eight-year, $80 million contract in March 2007.
Yet he lost his starting spot at right cornerback for Sunday's
game to Tarell Brown, another player the 49ers think highly of
after rewarding him last week with a three-year contract
extension through the 2013 season.
That doesn't mean Clements believes his status has changed
around here.
"I'm just going to continue to be Nate and work hard as I've
done my whole career," Clements said. "Everything will take care
of itself. As a corner, you have to have a short memory. You're
going to have good days and bad days."
Singletary has said he will go with the best players who give
the team a chance to win - and if that means regularly shaking
things up, so be it.
"This team right now is going through some changes," Singletary
said. "You're seeing guys step up, young guys stepping up, and
some other guys stepping back. It's going to continue to be that
way. I believe in the best 11 guys on the field. Whoever that
is, that's who's going to be out there."
Niners receiver Brandon Jones recovered relatively quickly from
a similar such injury after getting hurt early in training camp.
He was active by Week 4. But Tony Pashos was placed on injured
reserve last week with a broken left shoulder blade.
Clements said he would put all his energy into the
rehabilitation process to try to get back on the field as soon
as possible.
Singletary would hope Clements could be ready by the playoffs if
the 49ers make it.
"If we're in the playoffs, I want him to play," Singletary said.
"He's earned the right to play."
In addition to Clements and Staley, defensive end Demetric Evans
is nursing a sprained left shoulder that's expected to sideline
him for three weeks.
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