Working stiff

Garcia to skip Niners' exhibition opener with sore back

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) -- Quarterback Jeff Garcia will skip the San Francisco 49ers' exhibition opener Saturday to rest his sore back.

Garcia, a three-time Pro Bowler, hurt his back in a workout a few days before training camp began. He had been participating in nearly every practice at camp until Tuesday, when his back got stiff again.

After Garcia skipped the 49ers' morning practice Wednesday, head coach Dennis Erickson decided to keep him out of the team's first exhibition in Kansas City.

"We've been out here a lot of days and a lot of practices, and it stiffened up on him a little bit," Erickson said. "We've just got to be careful with it. He never had a problem with it, and all of a sudden [Tuesday] it bothered him.

"Maybe it's a good thing in that he'll be able to realize what he can and can't do to have himself ready physically to play."

Garcia passed for 3,344 yards and 21 touchdowns last season while leading San Francisco to the NFC West title and the second round of the playoffs. He has made the last three Pro Bowls.

But Garcia's absence in the preseason could be a good thing for the 49ers, who must evaluate a lively quarterback derby for the backup spots.

Tim Rattay, Garcia's seldom-used backup for the past two seasons, will start against the Chiefs. Rattay was 26-of-43 for 232 yards and two TDs last season, but he has played almost nothing but mop-up minutes in his NFL career.

"I'm a big Tim Rattay fan," Erickson said. "I'm really impressed with him. It's hard to find any negatives, other than he hasn't played. He's got a tremendous arm."

Rattay will give way to promising third-stringer Brandon Doman during the second quarter, and rookie Ken Dorsey probably will get his first NFL snaps in the fourth quarter. Unless Rattay seriously falters, Doman and Dorsey are fighting for one roster spot -- though the 49ers have said they might keep all four quarterbacks.

Garcia probably won't even make the trip to Kansas City with his teammates. He won't practice again until Monday, and Erickson thinks he'll be ready to play in San Francisco's home exhibition against Oakland on Thursday.

All-Pro receiver Terrell Owens skipped another workout Wednesday morning to rest his sore groin, but Erickson expected him to practice and play later in the week. Owens also missed Tuesday's workouts.

A third Pro Bowler also might miss Saturday's game. Center Jeremy Newberry has a torn ligament in his ankle, and the 49ers plan to limit his exhibition action to keep him ready for the regular season.

 

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