Vernon Davis And Mario Manningham Injured In Loss To Seahawks

It could be appropriate to start singing “Another One Bites the Dust,” as 49ers are indeed dropping like flies.

November 25, 2012; New Orleans, LA, USA; San Francisco 49ers tight end Vernon Davis (85) against the New Orleans Saints during the second half of a game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The 49ers defeated the Saints 31-21. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

On Sunday night against the Seahawks, Vernon Davis was the first to fall. He appeared to have caught Colin Kaepernick’s pass for a fraction of a second, but Kam Chancellor put a vicious hit on the tight-end, causing him to drop the ball, and ultimately suffer a concussion.

Chancellor was tagged for striking a defenseless player in the head injury, resulting in a 15-yard penalty.  The timing of the injury wasn’t great either, as it occurred in the first quarter. At that point, the 49ers weren’t entirely out of the game just yet. But losing Davis for the remainder of the game surely dampened their spirits.

Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area describes the process in which Davis will have to undergo in order to play in the season finale next weekend Against Arizona:

"Davis must receive clearance from an independent neurologist, as well as the 49ers’ medical staff, in order to return to action for the regular-season finale next week against the Arizona Cardinals."

With such strict concussion rules, Davis will have a steep hill to climb in order to suit up against the Cardinals. Although, Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee reported that Harbaugh described Davis’s concussion as “minor.” Like Justin Smith, however, San Francisco may elect to sit him in the finale instead of leaving him vulnerable for a more serious concussion.

Mario Manningham, meanwhile, may have suffered a season-ending-esque injury. While that’s simply speculation, knee injuries rarely turn out for positive. In this case, it was Manningham’s left knee.

After catching a chip pass from Kaepernick, Manningham fumbled the ball. And in the middle of transpiring pile, his knee was twisted around in between the flying bodies from both teams, as he laid helplessly on the field. The former New York Giant needed assistance getting up, and was eventually carted back to the locker room. He did not return to the game.

Maiocco reported after the game that the X-ray Manningham’s left knee was negative, meaning that it isn’t fractured. Still, there was no word on any ligament damage, which seems to be the main concern. He did, however, exit the locker room on crutches, reports Maiocco again.