Niners' Parrish, Bears' Benson go
down
CHICAGO (AP) - First, San Francisco
49ers safety Tony Parrish broke his left leg and ankle. Then,
Chicago Bears rookie Cedric Benson left Sunday's game with a
sprained right knee.
Benson is scheduled to undergo an
MRI exam Monday after being taken off the field on a cart in
the second quarter of his first NFL start. As he was being hit
for a 2-yard loss by San Francisco's Isaac Sopoaga, Benson's
right leg twisted under him.
''We don't really know yet,'' said
Benson, wearing a brace as he stood in front of his locker.
''They don't know what's torn, or if it's just strained.''
Benson said X-rays were negative,
but his knee was sore.
Benson had broken off an 18-yard run
earlier in the series, and he left the game with 50 yards on
12 attempts in a 17-9 victory.
''I was off to a good day,'' he
said. ''That's an amazing offensive line. They can march it
down the field on a consistent basis, avoid negative
plays.''
Benson started Sunday in place of
leading rusher Thomas Jones, who was inactive with sore
ribs.
Benson, the No. 4 pick in last
April's draft, left Texas as the sixth leading rusher in NCAA
Division I-A history with 5,540 yards. He held out of training
camp in a contract dispute and did not play in the preseason,
but had run well as a backup in the previous two games.
''Initially, you think the worst and
are pretty hard on yourself,'' Benson said. ''But after
talking to some guys - and being able to stand here right now
- you feel a lot better about it.''
Parrish wasn't feeling as good. He
knew immediately the injury was serious.
''I tried to deny what I heard, and
I heard the break,'' he said.
Parrish, who had started 121
straight games in his eight-year career, including his first
four years with the Bears, broke his fibula and ankle on a
running play early in the first quarter. He walked off the
field with help from trainers after staying on the ground for
several moments.
He was replaced by Keith Lewis.
''I knew,'' Parrish said. ''I tried
to walk it off and look past it, but I only got a few
yards.'' |