It’s no coincidence the 49ers defense began to spring leaks when defensive tackle Justin Smith was out of the game Sunday night.
But 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh said during his weekly appearance on KNBR 680 he was optimistic Smith would be able to practice this week. Smith appeared to injure his left elbow during the third quarter, was X-rayed, tried to come back with the arm taped up, but couldn’t finish the game. He had an MRI yesterday, but there was no update on his condition.
“Well, you know his nickname is Cowboy,” Harbaugh said of Smith, via Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee. “Everybody affectionately refers to Justin Smith around here as the Cowboy. So, I expect we’ll see the Cowboy. Knowing what I know of Justin Smith and the situation, yeah, I think the Cowboy’s going to be saddled up. . . . Ropin’ and ridin’! . . . If it’s humanly possible, the Cowboy will be out there ropin’ and ridin’.”
While it’s not much of an injury report, it does make me wish someone could talk Harbaugh into singing a few bars of “Rawhide.”