Jonas Jennings was in the locker room today, his right arm in a sling. Jennings said he dislocated his right shoulder Sunday in Seattle, the third time he has dislocated the same shoulder since joing the 49ers. He said doctors are still discussing how to treat the injury. He said surgery has not been ruled out. He was very open about the injury, saying several times that he's embarrassed about it. "I know people get frustrated," he said of his long string of injuries. "But no one can be as frustrated as me." Here's the full transcipt ....
Q: Why are you embarrassed if it's out of your control?
A: You're talking about three times in four years, you know? It still feels embarrassing to me because I can't do what I like to do. And that's work and play the game. It's out of my control, you're right. I've got to find out in my mind if there is underlying problems and what it may be. But ... Just coming in I felt I had probably one of my best offseasons, one of my better camps. That's what makes it embarrassing. It just takes one play and there it goes.
Q: Have you had any problems with the left shoulder?
A: No
Q: One play, that's all it took?
A: That's usually what it takes every time. One play.
Q: Are you going to need surgery?
A: Not sure
Q: Any idea how long you're going to be out?
A: No
Q: It just popped out similar to how it did in the past?
A: Mmm hmm. ... It was a lot different, though. It was a different ... the mechanics were different. It went out a different way than it did in the past, I can tell you that much. It ain't nothing I have to fly to have surgery for. I've got a chance. I've got to visit with doctors, just kind of roll with the medical staff and do what they ask me to do. It's to the point of frustration for me. I just want to do whatever I can to play football again. Even if it was the surgery option, I probably wouldn't jump to it at this point. That's just how I feel.
Q: Did they have to pop it back in?
A: Yeah, that put it back
Q: How long did that take?
A: Well, I actually played a few more plays with it out. I don't know if you guys could tell but I was just sort of winging it. They sent Barry (Sims) in, sent me out and popped it in on the bench.
Q: It popped out in the front, right?
A: Mmm Hmm.
Q: Did it pop out in the back?
A: I don't know. That's what I'm saying. We've got to let the minds come together and look at it. Because Dr. (James) Andrews did my last surgery. So it's kind of (wanting) to get together with everybody and see exactly what it is, what's best and exactly what happened. Because I want to know, too.
Q: Will you visit with Dr. Andrews?
A: I'm not sure at this point.
Q: How many times has that think popped out out?
A: Third time
Q: And how many surgeries?
A: Two
Q: All here or were some in Buffalo?
A: No, it was all up in here. That's what makes it embarrassing. ... I've already missed previous times so it's just ... you set out ... Basically, I haven't been able to do what my plan was to do coming out to the organization. It hurts more knowing you really could do it if stuff like this just ... I know people get frustrated but nobody could be as frustrated as me, and that's including the coaches, fans and the writers. Because ain't nobody got to deal with it but me. But I really feel their pain because I'm (really) annoyed by it, too. I just don't know what to do, really.
Q: Is it doubling annoying considering how well you played this offseason?
A: Definitely. Coming into a new position and doing everything that coach Martz and everyone wants me to do at a new position. So I was getting past a lot of that, you know just really playing football. Getting back with the guys and having offensive production. And that's really what being on the offensive line is about. Then we started to get that and - boom - here we go. Another road block in my life.
Q: What do you do now?
A: All I can do is stay strong and see what plays out. See how my shoulder reacts.
Q: Do you have any doctor's appointments scheduled?
A: Nah ... Just going on with the plan right now. Just kind of letting Fergie (trainer Jeff Fergusen) handle that. If you all have questions, you probably have to ask Fergie. But I fully trust Fergie, so I just have to roll with it.
Q: Do you wear a harness?
A: I used to. I used to after the first (dislocation) Going into the second one I did. Then after the second for precautionary measures I did. Then last year, that was a whole different story. You guys know the shoulder had nothing to do with it. So I (was thinking) it was clean, out of the gate with it and - bang - there it is. Maybe it's just bad luck or a bad break. I just want to .. . The third time ... In your mind, as a person outside of football, you start to think, 'Is there really an underlying problem?' What's causing it to do that?' Because I'm not going to stop playing the way I play. When I go on the field I can't be thinking about it every play whether my shoulder is going to come out. I'm going to continue to play the game violently. That's the way I do it. Still, it's something to think about.
-- Matt Barrows
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