Add Frank Gore to the list of players who had a body part get mangled in Seattle. Gore rushed for just 14 yards on 11 carries in the NFC Championship Game against the Seattle Seahawks. That’s not exactly what the 49ers were looking for from their star halfback, but there might be a more likely explanation than “he suddenly realized he’s a 30-year-old running back in the NFL and started acting like one.”
Tonight with his broken hand, Frank Gore shook hands, signed autographs and met over 250 of his loyal fans.
— Leftys Sports (@LeftysSports) January 21, 2014
We are told that Frank Gore will have surgery tomorrow on his hand and hopes to be back in his Niner uniform later this year! #ClassAct
— Leftys Sports (@LeftysSports) January 21, 2014
There was a point in the game when Gore went to the sidelines and was shown flexing his hand (I believe it was his left hand, but I’m going off memory since I’m currently at the Warriors/Pacers game).
Update: Based on this photo, it looks like Gore broke his right hand and signed his name 250 or so times with that same hand even though it looks pretty swollen.
Omg Frank Gore!!!!! pic.twitter.com/bfkh9qvRgQ
— Kayla Choy (@kchoy_choy) January 21, 2014
Gore was on the injury report throughout the season with ankle and knee ailments, but a broken hand makes his 17-yard grab on 4th-and-two during the 49ers’ final drive look even more impressive.
Gore wasn’t in the 49ers locker room today, and I heard that NaVorro Bowman was seeing getting into a car in the parking lot on his way to possibly get an MRI. Mike Iupati was in the locker room, wearing a walking boot. He sustained a broken left fibula on the play where Anthony Dixon rushed for a 1-yard touchdown, but Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle reported that Iupati’s injury will not require surgery.