SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Frank Gore showed up in the 49ers’ locker room Thursday wearing a blue, short-sleeved collared shirt. A dark blue patch on one side of his chest had “Frank” stitched in white letters.
Not the normal NFL attire.
While an outsider might have mistaken the two-time Pro Bowl running back for a plumber, Gore’s outfit made a statement inside 49ers headquarters: He’s back and ready to resume his blue-collar work.
The two-time Pro Bowl running back said his injured right knee has healed and he expects to revive his chase of San Francisco records Sunday against the Cardinals, the same team that ended his season last year with a fractured hip.
“Things happen for a reason,” Gore said. “I’m back and I’ll be ready.”
That could be bad news for another NFC West opponent.
Gore had his franchise-record streak of five straight games with 100 or more yards rushing snapped last weekend against the Giants when he hyperextended his knee and was held to zero yards on six carries — his first career game without a yard. Gore has 7,196 career yards rushing and needs 149 more to pass the late Hall of Famer Joe Perry (7,344) for the most in franchise history.
Consider the pursuit back at full speed.
“I want to be out there bad,” he said. “I’ll play. I’ll play good.”
Brain study to test 100 former players.
The researchers studying a degenerative brain disease in former athletes plan to test about 100 retired NFL players to try to learn how to diagnose the condition during life.
For now, the only way to confirm chronic traumatic encephalopathy is by examining brains after death. The Boston University center that has analyzed the brains of more than 70 former athletes is starting a three-year study of living patients. The Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy at BU’s School of Medicine also will recruit 50 retired elite athletes from noncontact sports as a comparison group, co-director Robert Stern said.
The first subject completed the two days of extensive testing Wednesday and Thursday.
Until CTE can be diagnosed during life, it’s impossible to develop treatments or to determine how to prevent it, Stern said.
“We need answers on this disease really quickly,” he said.
Seahawks lose Carpenter to injury
RENTON, Wash. — Restructuring the offensive line was such a priority for the Seahawks, they spent their first two draft picks last April on a tackle and a guard in the hopes they would become the long- term solutions on the right side.
Both John Moffitt and James Carpenter are now done for the season because of knee injuries.
Just two days after Moffitt was placed on injured reserve, the Seahawks announced Carpenter has a torn anterior cruciate ligament, prematurely ending the season for the rookie right tackle.
Vick misses Eagles practice again
PHILADELPHIA — Michael Vick didn’t practice for the second straight day because of broken ribs, and it remains uncertain whether the Pro Bowl quarterback will play when the Eagles visit the Giants on Sunday night.
Vince Young likely would start if Vick can’t go. The Associated Press
