49ers Center Out for Season
The Associated Press
Friday, December 15, 2006; 5:33 PM
SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- San Francisco 49ers center Eric Heitmann will miss the rest of the season because of a broken right leg that required surgery. Heitmann was injured in the first quarter of a 24-14 victory over the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday night. Seattle defensive end Darryl Tapp rolled onto Heitmann's leg while the fifth-year center was making a block.
Heitmann had surgery Thursday night in Seattle and is expected to return to the Bay Area this weekend. The Stanford product has started 45 straight games the last three seasons, playing center and right guard.
  San Francisco 49ers starting center Eric Heitmann leaves the field after being injured in the first quarter against the Seattle Seahawks in a football game Thursday, Dec. 14, 2006, in Seattle. Heitmann broke his right tibia. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren) (Ted S. Warren - AP)   The Indianapolis Colts overcome the rain and a sloppy start to beat the Chicago Bears, 29-17. The Colts' victory ignites a wild celebration among the white-and-blue attired fans in the sea of colorful vinyl rainwear that populated the soggy stands. Peyton Manning fills the final hole in his legend as the greatest quarterback never to win the biggest game. Leonard Shapiro: Tony Dungy and Manning seal their place in history by winning the Super Bowl. Manning adds a Super Bowl MVP award to his long list of achievements. Joseph Addai and Dominic Rhodes plow forward for the Colts go-ahead touchdown and never look back. There was a collective failure by the Bears' offense, but Rex Grossman provides the most vivid images. Notebook: Two assistant coaches who participated in the Super Bowl likely will interview for Dallas' head coaching job. On Our Site Wilbon and Kornheiser share their thoughts live during Sunday's big game. Photos: Relive all of the action from the NFL playoffs. Audio: Manning on the Win. Audio: Grossman on the Loss. Audio: Dungy Praises Smith. Quarterly Report (PDF) A Slew of Errors (PDF) Graphic: Play of the Game. MARK MASKE'S NFL INSIDER • Jaguars Tackle in Critical Condition • Lions Bolster Backfield With R. Johnson |
Coach Mike Nolan said Friday he hasn't decided on a replacement in the 49ers' regular-season home finale against Arizona on Dec. 24.
Tony Wragge, an undrafted Arena League veteran, finished the game against the Seahawks. Underachieving second-round pick David Baas also might get a chance to play, Nolan said.
