49ers’ Young Appears Headed for Injured Reserve List

Steve Young appears headed for the injured reserve list because of persistent post-concussion symptoms, a move that would finish his season and could signal the end of his career.

No formal decision has been made yet, but the agent for the San Francisco 49er quarterback said Tuesday he doesn’t intend to let Young play again this year and apparently the team and Young’s doctors feel the same way.

“I’m determined he not risk anything more this year,” Leigh Steinberg said in an interview with San Francisco’s KCBS radio. “He’s probably going to end up on injured reserve. This is a football injury. He was hurt on the field and that’s where those players go.

“But the news is not encouraging. It’s not real cheery. Obviously, to show symptoms this many weeks later is not a positive sign.”

*

Dallas Cowboy owner Jerry Jones said he didn’t question Deion Sanders’ decision to put himself back into Sunday’s game against the Washington Redskins about an hour after suffering a concussion.

“An athlete of his stature and experience, someone of his instincts about his physical condition, probably knows better how far to extend himself than the average football player,” Jones said. “That probably, subconsciously, was on everybody’s mind.”

Sanders supported his self-diagnosis by returning a punt 70 yards for a touchdown, sealing Dallas’ 38-20 victory. Jones noted that an MRI Sanders took Monday showed no damage, which indicates the injury probably wasn’t severe.

*

St. Louis Ram offensive line coach Jim Hanifan, 66, was hospitalized after complaining of chest pains. Hanifan was in good condition late Tuesday night, a Missouri Baptist Hospital spokesman said. . . . Trying to bolster their sagging defense, the second-worst in the NFL after Cleveland, the Washington Redskins signed cornerback Mark McMillian and linebacker James Francis. Linebacker Fred Strickland was put on injured reserve and safety Toby Wright was released. . . . The Minnesota Vikings activated backup center Corey Withrow from their practice squad and signed cornerback Carlos Jones to their practice squad. Withrow was needed because backup offensive lineman Matt Birk broke his right thumb in Sunday’s game against San Francisco. . . . Pro Bowl tight end Mark Chmura will not need neck surgery and expects to return to the Green Bay Packers next season, the team said. Chmura was put on injured reserve last month because of a bulging disk in his neck.

*

Miami Dolphin quarterback Dan Marino will not play Sunday against the Oakland Raiders, but might return Nov. 7, the team said. Marino met Tuesday with a specialist in Los Angeles, who said the injury has diminished Marino’s arm strength, and confirmed that Marino has a bone spur in his neck, which will not require surgery. . . . The New England Patriots held tryouts at linebacker in hopes of finding reinforcements at the injury-depleted position, but signed no one. Andy Katzenmoyer and Chris Slade are the Patriots’ only uninjured linebackers. . . . Guard Ken Blackman, sidelined all season because of a knee problem, was waived by the Cincinnati Bengals.

*

Neil Austrian, president of the NFL under Commissioner Paul Tagliabue for the last eight years, resigned to pursue other business interests. Austrian will not be replaced and the business units that had been reporting to him will now report directly to Tagliabue.