49ers’ Bowman will need knee surgery
A person with knowledge of NaVorro Bowman’s injury said the All-Pro linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers has a torn anterior cruciate ligament and medial collateral ligament in his left knee after going down Sunday in the NFC championship loss at Seattle.
The person said Bowman would have surgery for the ACL tear but the MCL is likely to heal with rest and he is expected to be ready for the 2014 season — and “it’s not as bad as feared.” The person spoke on condition of anonymity to the Associated Press because the team hadn’t made a formal announcement regarding results of tests on Bowman’s knee.
Coach Jim Harbaugh said after the 23-17 loss to the Seahawks that Bowman was believed to have torn his ACL.
Left guard Mike Iupati also broke his left ankle in the game. He said he didn’t know whether he would need surgery but was scheduled to be further evaluated Tuesday.
Television viewership for the NFL conference title games was up big from last season.
The AFC championship game between Denver and New England averaged 51.3 million viewers on CBS. That’s up 22% from the early game a year ago between San Francisco and Atlanta.
The NFC game between Seattle and San Francisco averaged 55.9 million viewers on Fox, up 17% from Baltimore-New England in the late window in 2013.
CBS said Denver’s win had a 28.1 rating and 51 share — the second-highest rating for the AFC game in 17 years, behind a 28.3 for the New York Jets-Pittsburgh Steelers in 2011. Seattle’s victory drew a 28.5/44, the highest-rated non-overtime NFC game since 1997.
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck was cho- sen to play in the Pro Bowl this weekend, replacing Seattle’s Russell Wilson.
Ike Hilliard is returning to the Washington Redskins as receivers coach. He is the latest addition to new Coach Jay Gruden’s staff. Hilliard coached the Redskins’ receivers during the 2012 season, then took the same job with the Buffalo Bills this season.